HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL

across the nation. It’s the perfect time to declutter, make some money and get to know your neighbours.

Save the date, spread the word, and let’s make this year’s Garage Sale Trail the best one yet! Pre-register at Garagesaletrail.com.au

Want to walk down memory lane? The OBF Parade is back and bigger than ever with fantastic floats and community groups that will march beside them, environmental workshops and a special performance from Paw Patrol.

Friends of Bella Vista Farm Open Day, Bella Vista Farm

Sunday 3 September 9:00am – 2:00pm

Enjoy a tour of the historic homestead by the Friends of Bella Vista Farm, visit the Trash & Treasure stall, watch a spinning demonstration and enjoy a Devonshire tea.

You can also bring a picnic blanket to relax in the garden while you listen to music from the Hills Shire Symphony Orchestra.

Cost: Free | www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Family Concert, Pioneer Theatre

Tuesday 5 September 7:30pm – 9:00pm

Listen to the classical symphonies of Beethoven, Mozart and more performed by the talented Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra and Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra.

Cost: Adults $40 | Concession $30 | Students $20 www.orchestras.sys.org.au

A taste of spring is almost upon us – for more information, visit www.orangeblossomfestival.com.au

Disclaimer: Event details subject to change.

The Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers & Fine Food Markets, Castle Hill Showground

Saturday 9 September & Saturday 23 September 8:00am – 12:00pm

Experience the culinary wonders of the Hawkesbury region through fresh seasonal produce made by local small businesses. Enjoy freshly ground coffee beans, crunchy sourdough, Bilpin apples and apple pies and more.

Cost: Free | www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Soroptimist International of The Hills Public Speaking Competition, Glenhaven Community Centre

Saturday 9 September 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Open to all students attending high school in The Hills, the Public Speaking Competition helps participants gain confidence and improve oral communication and research skills. The topic will be based on the International Women’s Day 2023 theme, which relates to access to digital technology.

Cost: Free | www.siseap.org

Come & Try BMX, Fred Caterson Reserve

Saturday 9 September 1:00pm – 3:00pm

BMX racing is an all-inclusive, thrilling sport for every age group. At the Come and Try event, coaches will run through a beginners training session and basic skills for riding around the Fred Caterson Reserve BMX track.

Cost: Free | https://www.facebook.com/ castlehillbmx

Kenthurst Fair, John Benyon Rotary Park

Sunday 10 September 10:00am – 3:00pm

Join the family fun day! Kenthurst Fair will include a street parade, stage performances, amusement rides for all ages and food stalls.

Cost: Free entry | www.kenthurstrotaryclub.com.au

Run for the Hills, Bella Vista Farm and Oval

Sunday 10 September from 8:00am

Run for the Hills is open to participants of all ages and fitness levels, meaning you can run, walk, skip or toddle your away around the course – as long as you have fun doing it!

Funds raised will go towards local charities.

Cost: Adults $35 | Seniors (over 65) and children $10 | www.crosscountrychallenge.com.au

The Hills Young Musicians Contest, Baulkham Hills High School

Friday 15 September 7:30pm – 9:00pm

This contest is designed to foster the development of local young music lovers from 10 – 18 years old by exposing them to a healthy competitive environment and receiving constructive comments from professional musicians. Come along and support our young musicians!

Cost: Free entry for spectators | Contest entry fee $40 | www.orchestras.sys.org.au

Orange Blossom Festival Annual Art Awards, Castle Glen Community Centre

Friday 15 September 9:00am – 4:00pm

Celebrate local art and support local artists at Castle Hill Art Society’s Annual Art Awards and exhibition.

Cost: Free entry | www.castlehillartsociety.org.au

Orange Blossom Bonsai Show, Harvey Lowe Pavilion

Friday 15 & Saturday 16 September 10:00am – 5:00pm & Sunday 17 September 10:00am – 4:00pm

Marvel at the large collection of beautiful bonsai trees from the Bonsai Society of Australia.

Cost: Adults $5 | Concession and children over 12 $3 | Children under 12: Free | www.bonsai.asn.au

Jazz at the Pines, Roughley House

Sunday 17th September 12:30pm – 4:00pm

Enjoy an afternoon of live jazz within the grounds of historic Roughley House at Dural and relax under the beautiful pine trees. Bring your own picnic lunch and drinks and enjoy coffee or tea and delicious cakes from the canteen. Tables can be booked or bring your own chairs or a picnic rug.

Cost: Adults $25 | Concession $20 | Family $50 www.jazzatthepines.org.au

Sydney Hills Garden Competition

Why not enter your garden in the iconic OBF garden competition - for gardens of all shapes and sizes including private gardens, commercial and industrial sites, schools, balconies and more. Entries closing soon.

Cost: Free entry | www.hillsrotary.org.au

MAYOR, DR PETER GANGEMI

0419 429 095 mayor.gangemi@thehills.nsw.gov.au

As the Mayor, a key focus of mine is to retain the family friendly character of The Hills and to fight against inappropriate development in our community. I recently led Mayors in NSW to fight changes by the new NSW Government that would allow apartment blocks to have 30% greater heights and densities above the existing controls, with approvals also bypassing the usual processes. Council continues to call for apartment standards to be lifted, with a Castle Hill development recently been issued a notice to rectify fire safety breaches following an inspection by Fire and Rescue NSW. I also continue to advocate that planning powers are returned to metropolitan councils, so we can represent you in shaping our community the way you deserve.

The Hills Shire Plan is our key annual document, and Council has recently adopted our largest ever plan for this financial year. Providing additional infrastructure for our new release areas and for our growing population, as well as maintaining our road network are key goals within The Hills Shire Plan. Some of the highlights in the plan include $18.8 million on the Annangrove Road upgrade in Rouse Hill, $4.9 million on The Water Lane Reserve playing fields in Box Hill and $1.3 million on the embellishment of Cockayne Reserve in Castle Hill.

I am so proud that the Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre was announced as the winner of the Cohesive Communities Category at the 2023 National Awards for Local Government.

The award on the national stage is an incredible achievement and particularly acknowledges the focus of Waves on inclusivity, accessibility and functionality. I sincerely thank all of our residents for supporting Council with the project and for voting for Waves in the awards.

I am also very proud that Council has won a Gold Award as well as the Work Health and Safety Reporting Award for its annual report at the 73rd Australasian Reporting Awards.

The Gold award is given for the highest reporting standards, with the Work Health and Safety Reporting Award acknowledging exceptional reporting that promotes workplace health and safety.

To provide greater recreation opportunities for our residents, Council is currently undertaking more sports fields and park construction projects than at any time in our history. I had the privilege to recently open Council’s latest park, Kumbatine Crescent Reserve alongside Ming Lau from the North Kellyville Advocacy Group as well as local residents. The reserve offers great opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors with its playground, picnic shelter, walking paths and its signature large kickabout area.

Supporting our community groups is also very important to Council, and it was a pleasure to see Council award our two largest ever community grants - $40,000 to The Sanctuary - The Hills Women’s Shelter and $30,000 to Hills Community Aid. The $40,000 grant funding for The Sanctuary will be used to provide specialist care work to enable mothers to move on to safe, independent and secure lives away from harm. The $30,000 grant to HCA will enable the replacement of an existing 22-seater bus with a modern vehicle, servicing local residents for years to come.

Finally, can I encourage you to attend an event during the Orange Blossom Festival in September. The OBF is The Hills annual festival, and this year will be our largest program in years, headlined by two events - the OBF Night Markets at Castle Hill Showground on Saturday 2 September and the iconic OBF Parade at Rouse Hill Town Centre on Saturday 9 September. Over a dozen community events are also part of the Orange Blossom Festival including Kenthurst Fair, Run for The Hills and the Annual Art Awards. More information is available on the official Orange Blossom Festival website: www.orangeblossomfestival.com.au

NORTH WARD 0400 449 324 clr.blue@thehills.nsw.gov.au

I recently visited Council’s Bidjiwong Community Nursery at Ted Horwood Reserve at Baulkham Hills. The community nursery produces local native plants for its re-vegetation projects in the shire’s parks and reserves and runs a small permaculture garden. While the Nursery does not sell plants, residents are welcome to four free plants for their yards per year.

The plants grown there are in sections depending on their native area within The Hills. The nursery is managed by Council and is a place where volunteers can learn about the native flora of The Hills Shire, participate in propagating native plants and attend environmental workshops. Along with volunteering at the community nursery, residents can also volunteer with Bushcare, which is Council’s program for the restoration of bushland reserves. Volunteers are involved in looking after the native bush, plant identification, fauna monitoring, weed control and seed collection for propagation at the Community Nursery. The Community Nursery is open for volunteers on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and the fourth Sunday of the month, and there are also Bushcare meetings in various locations on Sundays.

I am pleased that Council’s Community Grants Program has now opened. Notfor-profit community groups in The Hills Shire can receive a much-needed funding boost through the 2023/24 program. The program is open for applications and provides funding between $2,501 and $25,000 for community services. Council is seeking applications for projects that can be delivered for local residents by not-forprofit organisations. Council is particularly interested in projects in the following key priority areas:

• Events, concerts, theatre, and arts programs designed to engage key community members that entertain the broader community;

• Domestic violence prevention and recovery;

• Mental health and suicide prevention; and

• Disability, youth, seniors, and cultural projects that support community participation opportunities.

I am excited for the upcoming Hills Shire Orange Blossom Festival. The event’s history is rich with stories of cultural change, local achievement and a coming-together of diverse groups to showcase the best of The Hills. For over fifty years, The Orange Blossom Festival has taken a variety of forms including a street parade, community fair, race day, princess competition, month-long festival and fun run. OBF has undergone various transformations since its inception in 1969 when a group of locals envisioned an event that would bring the community together and celebrate life in the Hills.

From the 1800s, the Hills Shire was known as a major citrus-producing region. The high suitability of the area for growing citrus and stone fruit established the Hills District as the first commercial provider of oranges. Citrus orchards were plentiful, and the Shire was renowned for its agriculture, in particular its fruit. When it came to naming their local community event, the festival planners turned to local industry for inspiration and so the Orange Blossom Festival was born, its name a celebration of the first blossoms of the orange tree. What began as a parade through the main street of Castle Hill culminating in a fair at Arthur Whitling Park, grew into a month-long Shire-wide festival. This festival included a Gala ball, photography competition, talent search and the Hills Garden Competition. organised events such as Castle Hill Art Society’s Annual Art Show and the Sydney Hills Gardening Competition run by the Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville. For the full schedule of events, visit www.orangeblossomfestival.com.au

In 2023, The Hills Shire Orange Blossom Festival Parade returns along with plenty of community-focused events and activities. All the OBF Associated Events will be run by local community groups, offering a diverse range of activities for locals to enjoy. I’ll see you at OBF!

Memorial Shield at Crestwood Park.

The Nathan Gremmo Memorial Shield is an annual match played to raise awareness for organ donation. This year, Jersey Day will be held on Friday 1 September 2023. Wear your favourite jersey and start a conversation about organ donation. Jersey Day was inspired by the gift of life that Nathan Gremmo gave to six people when he became an organ donor at age 13. Thank you to both the Kellyville Kolts and the Hills Bulls for your continuing support to raise awareness about organ donation.

The annual Orange Blossom Festival will shortly be held. Members of our community will remember the wonderful events held during previous festivals and this year promises to be another great festival. The festival will be held in September this year and promises to be spectacular. This year there will be parades, street markets, the garden competition, the cross country event at Bella Vista Farm, the Kenthurst Fair and much, much more. You can find out more about the Orange Blossom Festival from the dedicated website, www.organgeblossomfestival.com.au.

I very much look forward to talking to you at one of the events.

Spring is also a wonderful time to enjoy the fresh air and appreciate nature by exploring some of our local bushwalking tracks. One of our family favourites, the Platypus Trail at Bidjigal Reserve is a 1.9-km loop that starts at the end of Excelsior Avenue Castle Hill near Eric Mobbs Reserve playing fields. Although it’s not pram friendly, it is great for young children who can climb up and down rock steps and jump across the stepping stones in the creek. If bushwalking isn’t for you, there are also plenty of Metro walks along paved footpaths and tracks for you to explore. These walks are great for families with prams and give you the opportunity to visit a number of parks and playgrounds along the way. For more information, including self-guided walking maps, visit the “Parks and Recreation” page on Council’s website.

The last few months have been very busy with sporting events and cultural events in many suburbs within our Shire. Whether you attend sporting fixtures, cultural events, enjoy our wonderful cafes and restaurants or you just want to relax in our parks and gardens The Hills Shire Council has a lot to offer our residents.

Council staff have been busy over the past few months working with contractors to commence and complete Samantha Riley Drive Reserve and Stringer Road Reserve in North Kellyville. Further north, bulk earthworks have commenced on the new sports fields at Brindle Parkway Reserve, Box Hill.

Our community proudly supports raising awareness for organ donation. The Kellyville Kolts Football Club recently held the Harwood Shield and Pratten Cup at Bernie Mullane Sports Complex.

The day was a festival of football but importantly it was about raising funds and awareness for Leaping Livers and the Liver Transplant Unit with the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. Leaping Livers is an initiative that raises awareness of childhood liver disease and organ donation. The funds raised for Leaping Livers amounted to $15K. Hills Bulls Rugby League Club hosted the Nathan Gremmo

In closing for this edition of the Focus Magazine I am pleased to let everyone one that my new State Parliament Electoral Office has opened. The office is located at Suite 1A, 19 – 21 Terminus Street, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Appointments can be made by contacting my electoral staff on phone number 02 9686 3110 or by sending an email to CastleHIll@parliament. nsw.gov.au.

I wish everyone a safe spring and I look forward to speaking to you at some of the wonderful events in our community over the next few months.

Information about Councillors, Council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au.

CLR JEROME COX

EAST WARD 0400 499 157 clr.cox@thehills.nsw.gov.au

As an elected councillor I am proud to represent East Ward and the Hills Shire. I am available to be contacted to assist you with any council related issues. The values I represent and bring to the council are:

• Honesty & Integrity

As a child growing up in the Hills, one of the highlights of the year was the celebration of the Orange Blossom Festival and particularly watching the annual OBF Parade. The beloved parade will return this year on Saturday 9th September through the streets of Rouse Hill Town Centre and will involve floats and performances by local community groups.

Some of the other highlights of the Orange Blossom Festival include community-

• Small & efficient government

• Prudent financial management

• Ensuring the Shire remains family-friendly There is always a lot going on in the Shire, which is publicised in this magazine, online and through social media. I hope you have a warm winter and remember, even in these colder months, it’s great to get out into the community.

CLR REENA JETHI EAST WARD

0412 341 161

clr.jethi@thehills.nsw.gov.au

The Hills Shire is growing at a rapid speed, and to foster a sense of community and promote growth within our local community, it is important to meet its needs through a range of Council and community-run initiatives and events.

The Baulkham Hills Community Garden at Conie Avenue Reserve, Baulkham Hills, which is run by the Rotary Club of the Hills-Kellyville, is extremely popular with our residents who come together to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It not only encourages healthy eating and sustainability but also provides an opportunity for neighbours to connect and share gardening tips and produce.

Clean Up Australia Day was held on Sunday, 5 March 2023 and it is a great initiative to keep the community clean and beautiful. It encourages residents, especially children, to participate in picking up litter and maintaining the cleanliness of public spaces.

The Hills Women’s Shed runs a range of fun, skill-sharing, arts & crafts workshops, including Knitting Club, colouring in for mindfulness and a dumpling cooking class. The Hills Women’s Shed is based at Balcombe Heights Estate located at 92 Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills. Visit their Facebook page for more information about their upcoming workshops.

The Hills Shire Library Service runs a range of book clubs at each of our libraries that cater to a wide range of interests. The book clubs foster a love of reading and are a great way to regularly meet new people and discuss books with other book lovers.

Community events and festivals are the soul of our Shire. Recently I attended the Taste of Diversity by the Community Migrant Resource Centre at Pioneer Theatre, which was a celebration of our multicultural community. Community events are an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and talents within the neighbourhood. This could include cultural fairs, food festivals, music concerts, or art exhibitions. Such events provide opportunities for residents to come together, showcase their talents, and learn from one another.

Education is one of the top priorities for our young generation to acquire knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. We are very excited to have the University of Canberra Campus in Castle Hill.

Waves turns ‘One’ in September! Congratulations to The Hills Shire Council staff for the excellent operation of Waves. With a focus on health and well-being, the coaches and personal trainers at Waves understand the importance of training for healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical fitness. There is something for everyone at our state-of-the-art Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre.

For more information, visit: www.wavesfitnessandaquatic.com.au

Remember, building a thriving community takes time and effort. As a councillor I encourage participation, listen to residents’ suggestions and ideas, and endeavour to create opportunities for everyone to get involved.

CLR RYAN TRACEY EAST WARD 0419 429 217 clr.tracey@thehills.nsw.gov.au

I was recently honoured to take part in NAIDOC week activation at Castle Hill Library. I would like to thank Muru Mittigar and Peter Williams and the family for supporting the event.

I am very proud that The Hills Shire Council in this term has formally included Acknowledgement of Country in its code of meeting practice. We are also currently pursuing opportunities to name a park to recognise Indigenous history and culture. This also involves collaboration with Muru Mittigar and the Local Aboriginal Land Council.

This year the Australian people will go to a referendum to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the constitution. It’s important you know the difference between voting yes and voting no.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice is about two things:

1. Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution.

2. Listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on laws and policies that affect them.

It will not be a third chamber of parliament and will not have the power of veto. There is still an entrenched disadvantage in Indigenous communities, and we know that when we listen to people on the ground, we get better outcomes.

Clr Dr Mila Kasby North Ward

0400

597 538

clr.kasby@thehills.nsw.gov.au

We have a very important question to answer later this year and it’s up to each of us to ensure our decision is well informed. We’ll hear a lot about the Voice to Parliament referendum over the next 3 months and need to carefully separate unhelpful noise and misinformation from fact.

This is where I think councillors can help – not necessarily in pushing for either a Yes or No vote but by informing people accurately what the Voice is. I’ve heard a lot of commentary that it is a federal issue and not our role. I don’t agree. Local government is the closest tier of government to people, and we have a fundamental role in sharing information, having respectful conversations and helping our community to be accurately informed.

At this year’s Local Government NSW conference, it was inspiring to see councils from all over the state vote to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s call for indigenous constitutional recognition through a Voice.

Last week, Mayors and Councillors participated in a webinar, hearing directly from Indigenous leaders and Minister Burney and asking questions on behalf of our communities.

Australia is one of the few developed nations with a colonial history that does not recognise its Aboriginal population in the Constitution. This deeply saddens me. The Voice will be an advisory body giving indigenous people a say on policies and laws that affect their lives. We know that giving people a say on issues that affect them leads to more effective results. It will allow indigenous people a seat at the table and fosters a culture of consultation with communities - a new way of working. The government doesn’t have to take this advice on but at least the advice can be given.

The Voice needs to be enshrined in the constitution to protect it from being removed at the whim of successive governments. Each time an advisory body is dismantled, the detrimental effects on First Nations communities are profound.

In a nutshell, the Voice is about 2 things:

• Making a practical difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with regard to issues like life expectancy, baby birth weights, overcrowded housing, and educational and health outcomes.

• Finally recognising the whole history of the country that we all share as Australians, all 65,000 years of it. Who will be the Voice? Indigenous representatives will be elected based on the wishes of local communities.

I encourage you to read or listen to the touching words of the Uluru Statement to the Heart – it’s been translated into many languages on their website. I will be advocating strongly for a Yes vote, supporting events run by Julian Leeser MP - ‘Berowra for Yes’ and volunteering for ‘Mitchell for Yes.’ Look out for upcoming community events and I welcome you to contact me with any questions you may have.

CLR VIRGINIA ELLIS NORTH WARD 0400 552 041 clr.ellis@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Information about Councillors, Council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au.

CLR ROSEMARIE BONEHAM WEST WARD 0400 551 435 clr.boneham@thehills.nsw.gov.au

As this glorious winter continues to provide many sun-drenched, albeit coolish days, I have been able to enjoy time with lots of great people here in The Hills. I have particularly enjoyed welcoming our newest Australians at our citizenship ceremonies. These people have chosen to make Australia, and in particular The Hills their home, and for good reason.

During these past months. I have yet again been impressed at the number of events and community groups Council supports. As an example, I attended the Western Sydney Academy of Sport reception at the end of May here at Council. This not-for-profit organisation offers young athletes tailored training to enable them to excel in their chosen sport; many of them go on to represent their state or even their country.

Once again, I encourage everyone to hop onto the council’s website to have a look for local events in the What’s Happening menu on the homepage. Obviously, the Orange Blossom Festival is coming our way, but there are many more experiences to be had here in The Hills in the coming months and I hope many of you take advantage.

CLR DR

BURTON WEST WARD 0400 452 389 clr.burton@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Information about Councillors, Council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au.

CLR FRANK DE MASI WEST WARD 0439 013 343 clr.demasi@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Orange Blossom Festival

The Orange Blossom Festival is an opportunity to celebrate our history here in The Hills. Orange seeds were introduced in Australia by Captain Arthur Phillip when the first fleet arrived in 1788. In 1800 George Suttor and his family arrived in Sydney and settled at Baulkham Hills. Through a Government grant of 180 acres he created an orchard which was formally known as Suttor’s Farm and later renamed Chelsea Park. So from rural beginnings with orchards here in The Hills to urban development, we still celebrate our history with the annual Orange Blossom Festival each spring.

I would encourage you all to go on the official Orange Blossom Festival website to look at times and dates that you can join in this celebration with a Street Parade at Rouse Hill Town Centre and the Night Markets at Castle Hills Showground and the annual Kenthurst Fair. I look forward to joining you in celebrating the Orange Blossom Festival and I encourage you all to bring the family to these fun-filled events!

Discover The Hills on foot or by bike

Sometimes we don’t really appreciate what we have here in our own backyard.

People often travel either interstate or across the globe and forget what we have here at home. I appreciate that many of you may have tightened the belt with the increase in the cost of living, interest rates and power prices to name a few. So now is a great time to look at the number of reserves, walking and bicycle tracks that we have here in The Hills. During the winter period, I took advantage and went on some great walks through Bella Vista Farm and followed pathways and bikeways to Kellyville/Rouse Hill. I was amazed at how many residents I met along the way either just going out for a short stroll, walking the dog or simply to get some exercise and fresh air. These are just a few of many locations we have here in the Shire and I would again encourage you to go online to Council’s website and find an area either near you or a place you would like to discover and you will be pleasantly surprised about the treasures we have here in our own backyard.

Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre

We are celebrating the first year of operation of our new award-winning Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre. I am so proud to be part of the original pioneering team that got this project started and I’m happy to say it was delivered to our residents under what was budgeted. This state-ofthe-art facility is certainly a jewel in our crown here at The Hills and is one of the biggest infrastructure projects that we have ever done. If you want to shake off those winter kilos, then head over and join one of the biggest gymnasiums in The Hills or swim laps in the two outdoor 50m and 25m pools or the indoor 25m pools. You can even unwind with the great spa, sauna and steam room facilities. We even have an adult pool that caters for all disabilities and injuries which will help those who need rehabilitation to get them back to full health. I am taking full advantage of what Waves has to offer and I look forward to you joining me there at the pool and gymnasium. You will be greatly surprised by how great this facility is.

Cats and Dogs

There are a number of residents who are pet owners and in particular, own either a cat or dog or both. It is essential that you register your pets which is a one-off fee. If you register your pets by the end of the year, Council is offering you a free dog tag or cat collar. I would hate for my pets to go missing, however, at least I have peace of mind knowing that registering them will help me reunite with them if they do go missing.