The Village Observer January

Proceeds from The Village Observer support residents in need from Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Willoughby and North Sydney areas, through Sydney Community Services.

Powering Our Community

Proceeds from The Village Observer supports residents of Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Willoughby and North Sydney, via Sydney Community Services – a local not-for-profit organisation that helps residents to live a quality and independent life in their own home and in their community.

Local Support for Local People

SCS provides services to seniors and people living with a disability including social activities, gardening, home nursing, podiatry, Community Care Advisory, linen, home delivered meals, home modifications and maintenance, flexible respite, carers support, shopping services, community and engagement programs, medical transport and assistance in daily life.

THE VILLAGE OBSERVER:

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The Village Observer is published monthly (except January) by Sydney Community Services (trading as Lane Cove Community Aid Foundation) • Distribution is at the beginning of the month.

• Readers are invited to submit articles for consideration. • Articles and items for community events should be emailed to the Editor with any accompanying images by the 15th of each month, for inclusion in the next month’s issue. • Advertising enquiries should be directed to advertising@thevillageobserver.com.au • If mailing material and you would like it returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All care, but no responsibility will be taken for this material. © Copyright 2021. Original advertisements and editorial in this publication are copyright and remain the exclusive property of The Village Observer. No part of this publication may be reproduced and/or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the Publisher.

DISCLAIMER: The content of editorial and advertisements in The Village Observer has been provided by a number of independent sources. Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor and Publisher of The Village Observer, and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy of the information, or any factual errors contained within any items printed. Readers should make their own enquiries directly to any organisations or businesses prior to making any plans or taking any action.

helloHappy New Year to all our readers. Here's our January digital edition with some of our favourite articles from 2022, plus some great ideas on what to do in the holidays.

We'll see you back in February with our printed edition.

Nicola and Sharon

CONTACT US:

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As a local, small publication, run by a not-for-profit charity, TVO relies on our advertisers and partners to come to life every month. We’d like to extend a big thank you to this month’s supporters:

Taste nature’s bounty on these Indigenous bush food tours in NSW

Aboriginal People have lived off the land for tens of thousands of years. As well as food, water and medicine, they hold a spiritual connection with the land: they are part of it and the land is part of them. From Sydney to Orange, from the South Coast to the North, join an Indigenous guide on a bush food trail through NSW’s national parks and coastal pathways to learn first-hand about the native ingredients essential to First Nations People, discovering a deeper affinity to nature and country along the way.

Thank you to Destination NSW for this article

Royal Botanic Garden - Sydney

Explore how the Gadigal People once lived right on Sydney Harbour during the one-hour Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour through the Royal Botanic Garden. Led by a First Nations guide, journey through the Cadi Jam Ora garden – a site of Aboriginal history as well as land that the First Fleet cleared to plant their foreign seeds. You’ll learn to recognise native bush foods that grow all over Sydney – smell the leaves of lemon myrtle, touch the swollen, water-filled trunk of a bottle tree, and taste the sour bursts of a finger lime.

Explore Byron Bay

- Bangalow

Join local Arakwal Bundjalung woman Delta Kay on a Bush Tucker Tour through the Bangalow Parklands. With knowledge passed down from her mother and grandmother, Delta points out the diverse range of edible fruits, roots, nuts, seeds and leaves that are native to the Australian bush. Watch the natural scenes of Byron Creek as you linger over a cup of bush tea and biscuits, and listen to some of the traditional Indigenous stories of the region.

Bundyi Cultural Tours - Wagga Wagga

Along the Murrumbidgee River, proud Wiradjuri man Mark Saddler shares the connection to nature his people have fostered for many years on his Taste of Wiradjuri Tour. Learn about significant places and natural sites, try speaking the language of the Wiradjuri People, taste the native plants that grow along the river and the Wagga Wetlands, and see how nature provides in the art of traditional tool making.

Country Food Trails - Orange

Orange may be one of the hottest dining destinations in NSW right now, but the Central West town has a long food history in Aboriginal culture. The Tasting Trail partners with Indigenous Cultural Adventures, so after spending the morning exploring Orange, visitors will also meet with an Indigenous Elder, who’ll share his knowledge of Indigenous food culture and the edible native plants that grow right in the historic town’s centre. Get to know the stories behind local landmarks and, afterwards, share a slice of damper with chutney and a steaming cup of lemon myrtle tea.

Unkya Cultural Eco Tours

- Scotts Head

The ocean, or Gaagal in Gumbaynggirr language, is a revered source of food for all of us. On this 1.5-hour Gaagal Yuludarla (Ocean Dreaming) Tour around Scotts Head and Junay Gaagal (Little Beach), you’ll wander this pristine Mid-North coastline with an Aboriginal guide, and learn the creation story of the ocean and how the first wave was made. See traditional fish traps and hunting methods and learn about the medicinal plants that grow along this shoreline.

Firescreek Winery

- Holgate

This family-run boutique organic winery in the Central Coast hinterland pays homage to its First Nations people of the region in an engaging Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience led by a local Darkinjung Elder. As the didgeridoo and clapping sticks vibrate around you, connect with the Elder’s storytelling – tasting native plants and holding traditional tools in your hand. You’ll also meet a Firescreek winemaker for an intimate tasting, and learn how Australian native flora and other botanicals are utilised in their award-winning wines.

Nura Gunyu - Ulladulla

Teacher, horticulturalist, chef and historian, Budawang Elder Noel Butler from the Yuin Nation shares his vast knowledge of local history, environment and plants used for food, medicine and survival on his 4km Bush Food & Cultural Knowledge Walk along NSW’s South Coast. Noel and his wife Trish guide visitors along the stunning shorelines of Ulladulla – pick native berries, fragrant leaves and fuel up with a bush-food morning tea. Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for upcoming tours.

Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness

– Narooma

For a completely immersive experience, the two-night Yuin Retreat, offered by Aboriginal-operated company Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness and traditional custodian Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, explores the sacred significance of Djirringanj country of the Yuin Nation or Narooma, Bega Valley and Bermagui regions. Starting with a traditional smoking ceremony, dance and yarning circle, guests will either embark on a guided walk on Gulaga Mountain or follow the Djirringanj Dreaming Trail, followed up with an Indigenous Twist Food Journey experience, a collaboration with some of the best chefs in the country and the oldest food culture in the world.

Take a walk in Hunters Hill

With extensive areas of open space, urban bushland and historic villages - all within a boundary of just six square kilometres - Hunters Hill is a great place to explore on foot.

Works to upgrade and promote popular walking trails in the area is creating renewed recreational and cultural opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Hunter’s Hill Council has recently completed work on a popular urban trail at Kelly’s Bush.

The project included the installation of fibreglass panels on sandstone footings and sandstone steps, to restore and upgrade the main track at Kelly’s Bush and to increase the safety for a range of walkers.

The project was undertaken using Council and Federal funding.

Hunters Hill Mayor Zac Miles said the work aimed to make the popular recreation area more accessible and safer for users.

It was also about conservation.

“The path holds a huge historical significance, and it’s important to Council to protect the integrity of the area for generations to come,” he said.

“As well as making great headway on upgrading the

pathways in Kelly’s Bush, there are more works to come that will enhance the nearby Clarkes Point pathways and ensure better access to the foreshore for all to enjoy.”

Kelly’s Bush is an area of heritage-listed bushland located on the on the southern foreshore of the Woolwich Peninsula, along the Parramatta River.

The area is part of the ancestral lands of the Wallumedegal clan of the Eora nation, the Indigenous people of this area of the Sydney basin.

In 1971, it became the site of the world’s first green ban, after it was famously saved from incoming development by dedicated conservationists.

Since 1995, dedicated Bushcare volunteers have carried on the legacy of the Kelly’s Bush Battlers who worked so hard to preserve this vital site for future generations.

The conservationists’ hard work has paid off in spades. Contemporary visitors to Kelly’s Bush will find lush greenery, thick enough to cover the sky in parts, making for excellent shade cover. As if transported from Sydney city, walking through the trail has a feeling closer to a national park than that of its suburban location.

The track starts from Weil Park and winds its way down to the waterfront in Woolwich. When the sun is out, the harbour glimmers in the light. The deep blue, framed

Whether it’s nature tracks, heritage trails or village strolls that you’re seeking, Hunters Hill has something to offer.

Hunters Hill is a great place to explore on foot

Buffalo Creek boardwalk Kelly's Bush

by foliage, makes for a spectacular, yet calming, natural image.

The Kelly’s Bush track is part of the Great North Walk – the whole Great North Walk spans 260 kilometres, from Sydney to Newcastle. The Hunters Hill link takes about three hours, with some difficult sections; it starts at Woolwich Wharf and ends at Buffalo Creek Reserve.

The leafy sandstone area of Hunters Hill has no shortage of walks; just around the corner from Kelly’s Bush is Clarkes Point, with another walking track and park with more harbour views.

This and other trails are captured in “Walks in Hunters Hill” a compact map and brochure, published as a community project in association with Hunter’s Hill Council, released in 2009 and still sought after. It can be found on the Council’s website.

Highlights include a two-and-a-half hour Woolwich Village and Foreshore Walk. The trail passes by many old houses and cottages in the village, and challenges walkers with a steep set of stairs to Woolwich Baths.

A Gladesville Hospital Walk offers a family-friendly adventure with plenty of space to have a picnic across the historic site, including in the Bedlam Bay Regional Park. Plus, visitors can take a look at Banjo Patterson Cottage.

A waterfall may be spotted on the Boronia Park Walk, a two-hour trail that is part of the Great North Walk. Winding through Boronia Park Reserve, walkers will find the

Tipperary Falls and the Geoff Grace Wetlands. The 12-metre high waterfall is best visited after a decent amount of rain. Well-frequented walks in Hunters Hill also take in scenic streetscapes and built heritage.

Hunters Hill Historical Society has captured these journeys of discovery through Australia’s oldest garden suburb in its publication “Hunters Hill Heritage Walks”, available at Hunters Hill Museum and on the Museum’s website.

The booklet covers six historical walks in total - Woolwich, Jeanneret, Garibaldi, Figtree, Missionary, and Henley –and many notable buildings and structures of yesteryear.

The walks cover the whole local government area, from the end of the Woolwich peninsula to the Municipality boundary at Pittwater Road.

Hunters Hill Historical Society President Chris Schofield said the walks provided an opportunity to discover the wealth of history in the area.

“Walks take people through the ages. There’s so much to see and learn about the many famous people who have graced Hunters Hill.”

For more information about walks in Hunters Hill, go to : www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/bushwalks.

“Walks take people through the ages.

There’s so much to see and learn about the many famous people who have graced Hunters Hill.”

Great north walk signage

Garibaldi square

Kelly's Bush

Lane Cove locals shine

Leadership Award Mike Taylor

Mike is the founder of the ‘Get That Job’ program that is run in conjunction with Lane Cove Council. With a resume that spanned British Airways, BP Australia and PWC, upon retirement, Mike wanted to find a way to use his skills and background in career management to help local people find new opportunities, or make a career change.

“I realised there was a group of people in Lane Cove who had been made redundant, or who were looking for a career change and I realised that I could prove useful to these people in some way,” he says.

The free program has been very successful, running for the past four years. Mike says he is particularly proud of helping new immigrants, or people whose first language isn’t English.

Citizen of the Year Michelle Casiglia

Michelle has been the President of the Lane Cove Concert Band (LCCB) since 2017, having been a graduate herself of the band’s 2011 beginner program, Learn to Play Music.

“I had never played a musical instrument before but had always wanted to even as a child. I ended up with flute because there was one spare to hire, so I started learning at 38 years of age,” she says.

LLCB is a fine-tuned operation that has more than 200 members across six bands. A fierce advocate for the band, Michelle, in consultation with the rest of the committee, worked tirelessly during the lockdowns to ensure members continued to meet and practice via Zoom. Online performances continued too, keeping everyone’s spirits high and bringing a sense of normality to the band and its audiences.

Once face-to-face playing could recommence Michelle ensured that each band fully understood and followed COVID safe regulations to ensure everyone felt comfortable enough to attend rehearsals.

Each time you see the LLCB at Christmas Carols, ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and in the Lane Cove Plaza, Michelle has been the person behind the scenes organising the event.

Michelle was also President of the Lane Cove Public School Band and during that time she helped put in place a music program that is the envy of many schools.

Michelle welcomes new players and fosters an atmosphere of inclusion and tolerance. She keeps the different parts of the organisational team informed and connected so the band runs smoothly. It is a huge effort and one that is done without expectation or remuneration.

Mike has helped people find positions in Lane Cove Council, NSW State Treasury and private enterprise.

Community Service Award Ferg Brand

In March 2005, Ferg became a volunteer trainer with Lane Cove Greenwich Computer Pals for Seniors, also known as the Lane Cove Seniors Computer Club, running two sessions per week for 13 years until its closure in September 2018. To keep the program alive, Ferg approached Lane Cove Library where he offered ‘Learn To Love Your Laptop’ sessions for seniors. The sessions continue thanks to Ferg, who has taught more than 100 seniors how to be computer literate.

Young Achiever Award Angus Menzies

Angus has committed seriously to his dream of competing in swimming at the Olympics and this year he won the gold medal for open age swimming in NSW, beating Matt Wilson, a former world record holder in the 100m breaststroke. Angus is currently competing in the Australian Swimming Championships, which are also the Commonwealth Games Selection Trials.

Access and Disability Award Dan Graham

Dan is a trained Theatre Director and Diversity in the Arts advocate. He is co-Chair of Artists with a Disability (part of the MEAA) and his work, which is informed by his own Neuro-Diverse experience, has taken him from Lane Cove across the world to places such as New York, London, Chicago and Barcelona. Most recently, he worked on the ‘Mad or Bad’ show which explored neuro-diversity in Shakespeare and ‘Sam I Am’ in partnership with deaf artist, Sam Marin.

Lane Cove’s Annual Citizenship and Neighbour Day Awards were on May 18 to recognise the outstanding contribution of individuals and organisations within the Lane Cove community.

Mayor of Lane Cove, Clr Andrew Zbik with Michelle Casiglia

Music, Art & Culture Award

Colin Piper OAM

In January 2022 Colin was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his significant service to music and has now received this year’s Lane Cove Music, Art & Culture Award. Colin has enjoyed an illustrious career in music with many strings to his bow. A teacher and conductor for many years (he has been guest conductor with the Adelaide Symphony, Canberra Symphony and Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestras), he is also Patron of the Lane Cove Youth Orchestra.

Sports Award Belinda Bernstein

Belinda joined the Lane Cove Netball Club as a player, parent and committee member in 2007. She coached teams, umpired, and played herself before taking on a decade-long presidency from 2009 to 2019. Belinda is now the President of Northern Suburbs Netball Association, the largest association in Australia with close to 5,500 members.

Sports Award John Hayward

John sailed at the Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club in the 60s and in 1996, re-joined when enrolling his children in the Club’s Learn to Sail program. In 2009, he co-founded the Club’s RUST group (Retired and Unemployed Support Team) which continues to meet fortnightly to perform a multitude of tasks from cleaning and maintaining to building. During his time, he has been the Hon Secretary, the Off Water Club Captain, Vice Commodore and Safety Officer. In 2010 the Club recognised his efforts by awarding him Life Membership.

Community Service Award

Robyn Stutchbury

Robyn has been living in Linley Point for the past 60 years and throughout all that time she has played an active role in community life. From 1965 to the 1980s, Robyn held various executive and committee positions with the Linley Point Progress Association.

She is the editor of the Linley Point newsletter, Linley Matters, and boasts over 50 years with the Lane Cove Bushland Society, not to mention being a member of the Lane Cove Swim Club and Lane Cove Art Society. She is also a member of the Lane Cove Council Age Friendly Advisory Committee.

For the past 12 years Robyn has given her time as a committee member and executive of Lane Cove West Residents’ Association.

Workplace Award Stephen Miller

Stephen is currently the school crossing supervisor at Lane Cove Public School and a Marriage Celebrant who has wedded many Lane Cove locals.

A long-term local, he was up until retirement the owner and CEO of an advertising and media agency.

Stephen reliably turns up in all weathers to assist with traffic management and ensure the safety of children and their parents during the busiest times of the day. When he’s not on the crossing, he is also the TV critic for The Village Observer.

Workplace Award Rachael Kiang,

Rachael is the manager and curator of Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios, where she has been curating exhibitions, creative programs and overall operations since 2018.

Since that time, Rachael has expanded the number of classes on offer and put together a vibrant program that has put the gallery on the arts map.

Workplace Award

Crando Kazuo Saito (aka William)

Crando Kazuo Saito has operated a Dojo (karate school) in the Lane Cove area for over 35 years. He has gained extensive experience in several martial arts since 1957 and is currently the highest-ranking, 10th Dan Karate Master in Australia. Saito has also dedicated a large amount of time

All of the winning locals. Photos by Matthew Duchesne

to the study of various schools of Japanese Buddhism and currently is Ajari (Abbott) of Koyasan Shingon-Shu.

His passion to empower others, with over half a century of dedication and a positive mindset, is something all students aspire to. His Dojo currently operates out of Lane Cove West Bowling Club where he continues to teach traditional Japanese martial arts.

Sustainable Citizen Helen Smith,

This year, Helen reaches an impressive 20 years of voluntary service as a Bushcare volunteer in Greendale Reserve, Greenwich.

In addition, Helen started volunteering through the Bush Friends program in 2013 and has dedicated thousands of hours to restoring and regenerating Lane Cove’s bushland. She also looks after her street’s communal veggie patch.

Neighbour Day Awards

Celebrating a different aspect of community service were the new Neighbour Day Awards that were promoted during Neighbour Day activities in March. The awards were presented to people who had helped their neighbours. From street parties, helping with chores, being the reliable port of call, connecting people to their new neighbours, everyone had played a role in their apartment block, street or community.

The recipients include Jackie and Dave Fredericks; Jamie and Mira Hiscock; Lyn Nasir; Mark and Adele Dalton and Christopher Butcher.

Council Workplace Awards

Council staff also received awards including Michelle Greenfield and members of Council’s Tree Team - Alex Drenth, Alex Evered, Fletcher Gardner and Brad Tucknott.

Sustainable Organisation Award

Storage King, Lane Cove West

Storage King Lane Cove is incredibly generous to local community groups. It provides free of charge storage space to the Lane Cove Sustainability Big Coffee Cup and also act as a drop off point for Uplift, Pass it on Clothing. Storage King has sponsored the 1st Tambourine Sea Scouts, Lane Cove Rotary and Lane Cove Cricket Club

Outstanding Business of the Year Award

Charitable Support: Bakers Delight (Lane Cove)

Joyce Aimond, the owner of Bakers Delight, has been a businesswoman in Lane Cove for more than 25 years. During this time, she has donated to local charities and has been a big supporter of Delvena Women’s Refuge and NICU Food from the Heart. She works with St Vincent De Paul to donate any bread left each day to the Matthew Talbot hostel. She has also donated numerous prizes to local schools and sporting organisations. She has also employed many Lane Cove locals.

Outstanding Business of the Year Award In the Cove

The news and community site that has operated in Lane cove for 12 years was awarded Outstanding Business of the Year in recognition of it creating community connections. Founder Jacky Barker said, “Thank you to the locals who nominated In The Cove. It was an honour to receive it. ITC’s mission statement is to keep Lane Cove locals in the know and up to date on matters that impact them. We love what we do and thank you to all the people who stop us in the street and tell us how much they enjoy In the Cove.”

Greenwich Village Arts Trail celebrates 10 years

A decade of delivering art and beauty to these suburbs and beyond is something to be celebrated. The Trail is back on the weekend of November 4 and 5, so pop along and prepare to wonder at the works produced in the open studios. The organisers recount its beginnings…

In early 2005, local residents Gulcin Seven and ex-Lord Mayor John May noticed the amazing number of artists active in Greenwich and decided to approach them about putting on a group exhibition.

John canvased friends while Gulcin broached the subject with customers in her newsagency.

Ten artists agreed to join, and in early October, they lugged their easels, screens, lights and plinths up the stairs of the local sailing club to set up the inaugural Greenwich Art Show.

The group consisted of Lyn Burns, Amanda Harrison, Pamela Irving, Magie Maule, John May, MaryAnne Parry, Susan Rothwell, Gulcin Seven, Kaan Seven and Louella Woodham.

Opening night (October 7 2005) was a huge success, with friends, relatives and local residents filling the spectacular top floor of the Greenwich Sailing Club. The harbour sparkled from all sides of the room and the artists sparkled inside, thoroughly enjoying the unique opportunity to showcase their work.

Another two successful shows, in 2007 and 2010, saw the group grow to 14 artists, by which time space in the hired room was becoming tight. Combined with the onerous logistics and physical difficulties of hiring and manhandling the screens, plinths and lights up two flights of stairs, let alone all the artworks, it was time for a rethink.

At the traditional post-show de-brief, Dana Dion suggested changing the format to an open studio trail, like similar events in the Eastern Suburbs and Willoughby. Under this

regime, artists would be responsible for their own individual show and administration, without the space and light restrictions, or the need for transporting artworks. There was unanimous and enthusiastic agreement.

Dana Dion and Amanda Harrison took up the reigns to corral a diverse collection of artists into a show spread across various sites around Greenwich.

Most of the guidelines were established at this stage, including for the Arts Trail to be walking friendly, which meant a keeping strictly within the Greenwich suburb boundary line. In later years, this has also included a council-sponsored bus for the lessable-bodied walkers.

Another of the guiding principals was around art education, for the Trail to provide an opportunity to see into the back room and learn about the processes behind the creations that artists bring to life in their studios. Strict presentation requirements were set down, to ensure the best visitor experience possible - the artwork was to be presented as professionally as

possible, no seconds, and all studios had to be open for the days and hours specified in the advertising.

The first Greenwich Village Arts Trail (GVAT) opened on the weekend of 8 & 9 October 2012 with 14 artists nervously opening their doors at 10 different sites - Lyn Burns, Dana Dion, Amanda Harrison, Cathy Jager, Melissa McElhone, John May, Kerin Moorehead, MaryAnne Parry, Sally Rossi-Ford, Susan Rothwell, Gulcin Seven, Petrina Slaytor, Peter Staveley, and Louella Woodham. It attracted over 250 visitors from the local area and proved to be a wonderful community event - and a big success for the artists.

The GVAT has now grown to attract over 900 art-lovers from all over Sydney - and beyond. Cemented into the calendar on the first weekend of November, the streets of the beautiful harbourside suburb fill with art-lovers who meet with friends, walk in groups, and view art in over 30 sites, speaking with the artists, learning about the creative processes, and purchasing fabulous artworks to take home to enrich their homes and lives.

Marianne Urth #3

Amanda Harrison Tea & Sympathy

Dana Dion January Delight

Nicola Hart pink vase

LANE COVE

Our Councillors

Mayor Andrew Zbik

This role is a great way to serve our community. Naturally I am a person who takes responsibility and works to make life better for our community. Since I joined the Scouts as a 10-year-old, I have always been involved in some form of community service. Serving as a Councillor is another way I can serve.

Kathy Bryla

I love my local community and want to be directly involved in working with the community to create an even better Lane Cove (if possible), a sustainable Lane Cove, inclusive, diverse and healthy for us now and for future generations.

Katherine Mort

I stood for council to consult with and represent the residents and contribute to further improving outcomes for all. I am grateful to the residents of Lane Cove for the opportunity and the privilege to represent them on local council.

Scott Bennison

In 2008 Scott Bennison was successfully elected as Councillor for Central Ward and was re-elected in 2012 (representing West Ward) and served as Mayor during 201213. During his period as Mayor he was involved in the development of the Rosenthal Avenue car park and Plaza upgrade.

David Brooks-Horn

David Brooks-Horn was elected as a Councillor for East Ward in 2008. He grew up locally and attended Greenwich Public School. He is committed to improving local opportunities with increased parking and revitalisation of the town centre. David served as Mayor from September 2013 to September 2015.

Rochelle Flood

I want to help protect and expand our green spaces, as well as to deliver more affordable housing and key services like affordable and accessible council run childcare.

David Roenfeldt

Representing one’s peers, being a strong voice and achieving positive outcomes for others is something that continually inspires me. There is no better feeling of satisfaction when one’s personal involvement achieves positive outcomes for others.

Bridget Kennedy (DEPUTY MAYOR)

A committed and passionate advocate for people and the environment, I devote my spare time to initiatives that foster community connection. I ran for council because I want to serve and truly represent Lane Cove and am ready to be a participant rather than a bystander.

Merri Southwood

I will work to ensure that Lane Cove Council achieves an appropriate balance between highdensity development and the preservation of the amenity and natural beauty that we enjoy in our LGA.

HUNTERS HILL

Council elections took place in December.

Here is a rundown of your representatives in Lane Cove and Hunters Hill.

Julia Prieston

Julia was born and raised in Hunters Hill. She would like to engage the community through encouraging more group activities for sport and recreation and promoting outdoor events such as the open-air cinema. She aims to be able to foster intergenerational involvement in these ways during this term of council.

Tatyana Virgara

Tatyana is an experienced legal and governance professional who is committed to working toward consensus building and informed decision making to enhance the maintenance, presentation and amenity of key public spaces in our community this term.

Mayor Zac Miles

Zac has been a serving Councillor for the last nine years and is looking forward to bringing new energy to the role of Mayor.

Read more in the Mayor’s column featured in this edition.

Ross Williams

Ross’s goals include independent and transparent decision making; timely, efficient and responsive service delivery; open and inclusive community consultation; our environment, the built and natural heritage, sustainability.

Richard Quinn

Richard’s priorities for the Council term include DA processing times, road and footpath maintenance and traffic management plans, the provision of high quality sporting and community recreation facilities that are accessible to all and finalising the masterplan for Gladesville.

Elizabeth Krassoi

Focussing on Climate resilience through economic, social and environmental sustainability, Elizabeth is passionate about community engagement as well as partnerships for safer, people-centred planning and place design.

Jim Sanderson

Jim, last term’s Deputy Mayor, plans to deliver more of the same: hard work to protect our character and heritage, our environment, our bushland and our parks and promote our sustainable future.

Supporting and thriving: the story of women and girls in our local sports clubs

It is an amazing time to be a girl playing what were male-dominated sports and across LC there has been an explosion in the number of girls out on the fields each week. Fortunately for them, there is no shortage of role models as LC boasts some of the hardest working female board members, presidents, coaches, registrars and more.

WORDS: NICOLA RICHES

It’s Saturday morning, freezing cold (or boiling hot) and you’re running around the house hunting down the shinpads which have mysteriously disappeared since Tuesday night’s training session. Your kid/kids are bundled into the back of the car faster than you can say, “where did you put your drink bottle?” and you arrive on the sideline within minutes of the whistle being blown. Being the taxi driver and sideline supporter is one thing – keeping this whole kids’ sport show on the road, another thing entirely.

It's not as though women have been absent from kids’ sports clubs until nowfar from it. What has happened, though, over the last decade is the rise of women on boards in local club sports that were traditionally seen as male-only, fuelled by the phenomenal rise of girls and women playing those sports.

Next year, the Matildas will represent Australia as it co-hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. Captain Meg Lanning guided Australia’s women's national cricket team to a World Cup win this year. But it all starts at the local clubs, where parents, carers, families, kids and volunteers come together to, at a bare minimum, lend an extra set of shinpads and fetch a spare water bottle from the car.

Lane Cove (“LC”) is of course no different and the prevalence of local women on the boards and committees has coincided with more girls running out onto the fields.

Among those ladies are Karen Clarkson - the secretary and registrar at Lane Cove Cricket Club (and until recently held the same position for the Lane Cove Tigers); Sally Tremlett – the president of LC Rugby Club; Lisa Doumit who was president of Lane Cove Tigers until this year, and despite stepping down, continues to support new president, Matt Antoniolli, and has also remained on the committee while sitting on the District Junior League Board. Meanwhile, there’s Megan Sweeney who is co-president and treasurer of LC Football Club and Fran Hahlos, who looks after communications for the Tigers, while also being employed as digital and commercial manager for the North Sydney Bears.

They’re busy women with families, jobs and a raft of other commitments that extend beyond sports clubs, but alongside their committees and volunteers, they nurture their female players and run the clubs in such a way they can keep growing female participation.

Running new programs and games within the codes has been key to this.

LC Football Ladies

Megan, who joined LC Football as a player more than 10 years ago, explained how at the start of this year, the Club put together a specific female football strategy within the overall strategy; not easy for a Club that boasts 80 teams with more than 1100 members.

“We have been working on the girls’ teams for a long time; getting the mini roos through into juniors and it’s been great to form those teams.

“This is the first year we have been awarded a position in the Diamond League competition for girls under 12s and up. It has been a big thing for us, and something we’re really proud of.

“Diamond League is a quality level girls-only competition that enables the girls to develop their technical football skills and confidence far more quickly in a girlsonly environment,” she explained.

It's a similar situation over at LC Rugby Club where Touch Rugby started six years ago and has massively boosted the number of girls playing at the Club.

Sally, who has rugby running in her veins (her father

was Ron Graham who played for Australia), explained that the biggest highlight of their calendar is the six-week Touch competition in term four.

“We have between 600 and 800 players come along and 60 per cent of those are girls.

“It’s one of the biggest social events for us, bringing together kids from different schools and different backgrounds.

“Female participation is an evolving space for us. Tackling doesn’t apply until the kids are over nine. It comes down to us making people feel safe when it comes to contact. Our motto is: you’ve got to make it social and you’ve got to keep it real,” she said.

Lisa is a seasoned junior club volunteer pro, sparked by a childhood that saw her accompany her Dad to North Sydney Bears games.

Now a mum to four boys, it was a given they would play League and, under their own steam, continue to do so. Lisa helped steer the growth of female players at the Tigers.

LC Girls Rugby LC Cricket Girls

LC Tigers Girls

They bring a gorgeous, smiling energy into the club

One of those drivers was the introduction of Blues Tag - an inclusive-style of Rugby League open to players from all backgrounds and abilities, with a focus on improving the players' fundamental skills – catching, passing and ingame communication.

Unlike Touch, the kids grab and pull a tag from their rivals’ uniform. It’s fast and kids can make more linebreaks which helps keep focus levels up.

“Three years ago, we introduced our first Blues Tag team. Before that we had a smattering of girls under sixes, or under nines, but then the District Board got behind Blues Tag and we’ve seen girls involvement increase each year. Now we almost have three girls’ teams,” she said.

Setting an example at a professional level is the North Sydney Bears, who introduced its first women’s team in 2018.

Fran explains that the District has seen a 300 per cent year-on-year growth in female participation.

“One of the things we talk about often is aiming for equality in the game.

“Just before Covid hit, we did an event for the North Sydney District Junior Rugby League at The Alcott where women in league who have senior roles told their stories.

“Then we had our Women in League round in late May with 70 girls from clubs across the district join us at the Bears game.

“They bring a gorgeous, smiling energy into the club and a whole new set of volunteers.

“Mums aren’t just team managers any more, or running the canteen. They’re coaching and they’re loving it,” Fran enthuses.

One of the benefits of having women run the boards and committees – for example, there are six women on the board of Lane Cove Football Club - is that the girls coming through can be reassured that there are no barriers to entry in the sports they wish to play.

Lisa Doumit explains that when she first started with the Tigers, there were only men on the committee.

“I think there are different positives women can bring to the boards, and I think it improves the dynamics,” she said.

Karen explained how, at LC Cricket and the Tigers, she witnessed what the power of a mixed male, female board has.

“It’s not a girl vs boy, or a women vs men thing, it’s whether women have been welcomed into the Clubs and in my experience here at LC Cricket and at the Tigers, we have been.

“It’s about having pathways available for girls; for younger girls to see older girls play, and women playing a bigger part in the operations. It’s important for them to see there is a progression for them, and that they can continue to play as they grow up.”

It's a strategy in place at all the local clubs. Megan said that it’s of particular focus at LC Football Club too.

“It’s a huge priority for us - providing a visible pathway for the girls.

“We have at least half a dozen women from the ladies team coaching the juniors,” she explained.

North Sydney Bears makes a point of devising ways that equality is visible to the girls. For example, the Bears alternate between male and female focused news and lead with the most newsworthy story, regardless of gender – something that would have been unheard of until at least five years ago.

Fran at the Bears explains that the Club has been leaders in introducing female teams and have been addressing barriers to entry.

“I’m hoping that if the Clubs below see what we’re doing, they will follow suit and more girls will be inclined to join their local clubs, whatever sport they choose,” she said.

All five of the local ladies will tell you that attracting and retaining volunteers is hard.

LC has a history of kids who leave local clubs to play for their private school teams, but that is changing. Along with that comes the challenge of managing increased numbers and teams. Most will tell you that it is the same families giving their time week after week.

What these ladies accomplish – hours upon hours of volunteered time – is nothing short of incredible. Above all, they say they don’t do it alone and they are backed by an army of superstar parents.

If your girl wants to turn up on the field, having mislaid her shinpads and having forgotten her water bottle, don’t hesitate to sign her up. They’re a welcoming bunch.

LC Girls Rugby LC Tigers Girls

It’s about having pathways available for girls

Hunters Hill Theatre

– a look back and the view forwards

Two years ago, among all the chaos of Covid, Hunters Hill Theatre celebrated 90 years as a cherished community group. Now at home in a new venue and with a slate of fabulous performances in the wings, the group takes a look back and gazes to a bright future ahead.

Many Village Observer readers may not be familiar with Hunters Hill Theatre which, despite its name, has now moved to a new permanent home – an intimate auditorium at Club Ryde on Victoria Road. Formed in 1930, the Theatre has the proud distinction of being the longest running community theatre on mainland Australia and continued to deliver entertainment to enthusiastic audiences throughout WWII.

The Theatre Company began as a play reading “circle” in September 1930 with group members meeting monthly to read selected plays which then grew into holding “staged” readings at Hunters Hill Town Hall – usually two per year.

This was the established practice up until 1945. The Theatre then began staging full productions and the emphasis was on finding “popular” plays that would attract audiences.

Through the 1950s and 1960s the Hunters Hill Theatrical Club (as it was now called) would stage two major productions a year whilst holding “workshops” and readings as well.

In 1978 the Club secured exclusive use of the St John’s Parish Hall in Woolwich and converted it into a small theatre and began producing three or four plays a year.

Sadly in 1993 the Church Hall was destroyed by fire and many costumes, equipment and Club records were totally destroyed.

The Club then was allowed to move into the adjoining deconsecrated Church which was fully converted into an intimate theatre seating 98 patrons and included raked seating, air-conditioning and theatrical lighting. By this time, the Club is presenting four plays a year, each for a three-week season.

However, in 2016 the Anglican Church sold the premises and the Theatre Group moved to the Hunters Hill Town Hall – moving again in mid-2021 to a more permanent home at Club Ryde.

Like all businesses and places of entertainment, the Theatre was in lockdown for many months during 2021 – 84 Charing Cross Road had its opening night on Friday 18 June only to be shut down the following Friday. However, regular patrons were happy to hold onto their tickets and the play was revived in March this year.

Presenting four plays per year and delighting approximately 4000 patrons each year, Hunters Hill Theatre is run by a number of dedicated and passionate volunteers, many of whom are long term members and

Presenting four plays per year and delighting approximately 4000 patrons each year

Our Town, November 2019

Rehearsals in full swing for Female of the Species which opened on Friday 17 June 2022

contribute as committee members, lighting specialists, set design, directors, actors, costumers and graphic designers. The theatre also has an intern program for Year 11 and 12 high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in theatre production. A number of students from Marist Sisters College, Woolwich have participated in the program since 2015 learning the finer points of lighting and sound and box office management, and this will continue for each future production.

The Theatre has a rich history as the archives demonstrate the role it has played in providing an outlet for entertainment through Depression, Recession and the war years. Stories are legend and there are far too many to illustrate here but one of the funniest episodes was during Smugglers Beware in 1988.

One of the props used by a character, a fishwife, was a real fish, which was kept in the freezer after weekend performances. However, on one occasion, the Stage Manager’s assistant forgot to return the fish to the freezer.

At that time the Theatre was performing in the old wooden church hall; it was summer and it was hot. When the doors were opened about an hour prior

to the next matinee performance, the odour of rotten fish pervaded the hall. Front of House staff and crew did their best (no air-conditioning). Needless to say, a ‘pretend’ fish was used for all further performances.

Another memorable occasion was the production of Wanted One Body in 1998.

The director had seen a production of the play which was rather forgettable and decided to hatch a plot to make his version more superior. The play revolves around a murderess who is a twin, a part usually played by one actress because the ‘twins’ never appear on stage together. However, the Director was aware that the actress chosen for the role did, in fact, have an identical twin sister. Every night at curtain call both of the twin sisters entered from opposite sides of the stage to an audible gasp of surprise and delight from the audience.

President’s message:

Running a community theatre group is the same as running a business where relationships and connections are key and without our new partnership with Club Ryde our future looked uncertain. After a rocky two years thanks to Covid, Hunters Hill Theatre is now settled into its new home at Club Ryde. Club Ryde, its directors and staff have welcomed us with open arms and even gone so far as styling our foyer making for an impressive, sumptuous entrance to our new performance space. This new partnership is a win-win where patrons can enjoy a pre or post performance meal in the Club and enjoy a ‘bubbles at interval’ or other beverage at our in-house theatre bar.

We are thrilled to have moved to the centre of Ryde and we look forward to introducing affordable community theatre to new audiences in Ryde, Gladesville and Lane Cove as well as welcoming our Hunters Hill regular subscribers to our new venue. We are keen to be a part of the community and play a role, and we welcome interested locals as volunteers and members –not only those keen to “tread the boards” in an acting capacity but others who may be a dab hand at building and painting sets, helping to design and make costumes and distributing posters advertising upcoming productions around local shopping centres.

Celebrating our 90th birthday in 2020 (although celebrations were delayed until the end of 2021), was a special moment and it was wonderful to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about some of the amazing plays we have staged over the years and how we have entertained the local community for so long. A humbling and proud moment.

MARISA GALIAZZO President – Hunters Hill Theatre

St John’s Parish Hall Woolwich – the fire in 1993 totally destroyed many of the Club’s assets

If you would like to purchase tickets for future productions, please visit www.huntershilltheatre.com.au.

If you would like more information on becoming a member or volunteering your services, please email boxoffice@huntershilltheatre.com.au or telephone 02 9879 7765.

St John’s Church, now deconsecrated, converted into a theatre with raked seating, served as the Club’s permanent home from 1993 until 2016

Wanted One Body performed in 1998. The identical twin sisters seated at the table.

Waste Warriors

About 100 of these food-generating businesses are part of a new trial underway across Northern Sydney, which is looking to find a way to reduce the amount of food scraps that end up in landfill.

Their role in the three-month Food Scraps Recycling Trial is part of a broader project happening across the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC).

In Lane Cove, Ryde and Willoughby council areas, the trial is happening in homes and covering a sample of single and multi-unit dwellings.

Ku-ring-gai Council is also involved in overseeing an audit of what is collected from the sample areas.

The project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority initiative, funded from a waste levy.

NSROC reports that leftover food from homes and businesses is one of the most prevalent forms of waste.

About a third of garbage in red-lidded garbage bins is made up of food waste.

Food waste and other organic materials can be transformed into a resource by converting it into compost. Currently, some of this waste is converted into material used to rehabilitate a mine site dam near Goulburn - the Woodlawn Mechanical and Biological Treatment Facility located at the Woodlawn EcoPrecinct.

Food waste collected during the trial goes to a waste management company in Sydney, then be transferred to a regional composting facility that converts food waste in to a nutrient-rich sludge which is dried, granulated and sold to agriculture and horticulture markets. The process also creates a combustible gas, similar to natural gas, that is captured and used as a renewable fuel as green electricity.

By separating food waste during the trial period using food caddies supplied by their Councils and placing these in specially-marked bins for collection each week, participants are providing valuable information on the

Cafes, businesses, aged care facilities and schools across Hunters Hill are taking up a new fight against waste – and it starts in the kitchen.

Leftover food from homes and businesses is one of the most prevalent forms of waste

Hunters Hill Preschool

Kerbside bin for the Food Scraps Recycling Trial

uptake of separating food waste, reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and better utilising food as a resource.

Hunters Hill Preschool is among the trial participants.

Director Marrianna Francis welcomed the initiative.

“Hunters Hill Preschool is excited to be participating in the Food Scraps Recycling Trial project through Hunter’s Hill Council,” she said.

As well as potentially improving waste collection, the trial was also a great learning opportunity for students.

“We have found that this is a tactile, practical way to ‘walk the talk’ in terms of environmental responsibility and community engagement and has complimented our conversations about healthy eating and foundations of sustainability,” Marrianna said.

“Thank you Cleanaway and Hunter’s Hill Council for including us in this trial and the resources you have provided!”

Cleanaway is the collector in Hunters Hill of the trial’s specially-marked kerbside bins.

Dachshund Coffee in Hunters Hill Village is also participating.

Matt Williams owns the business along with twin brother Alex.

Matt said trying to reduce the café’s carbon footprint

was a big incentive for joining a program such as the Food Scraps Recycling Trial.

“As a food business we generate a huge amount of food waste,” he said.

“Which previously goes off in general waste, which ends up in landfill.

“It’s also expensive to dispose of.

“So, from an environmental perspective it’s a wonderful initiative.

“And also, economically, there’s a financial incentive to participate.”

Hunters Hill Mayor Zac Miles said it was great to see so many local organisations taking part.

“We hope that this trial will provide valuable information that will deliver long-term benefits for organisations and households across our own and our neighbouring local government areas,” he said.

“Changing to a new food service in addition to the garbage system presently in place would require new processes, infrastructure and investment, so more information is needed about how much food there is and if it can be separated from general waste.

“It is also a great exercise in community education, getting people to look more closely at the amount of food waste we generate and how it could either be reduced in the first instance, or disposed of more sustainably.” NSROC said the data collected from the trial would be used to inform the future of food waste removal, with a target of reducing food waste in landfill by 50% by 2030.

From an environmental perspective it’s a wonderful initiative

Hunters Hill Preschool

Putting out bin

Matt Williams adds food scraps to the kitchen caddy at Dachshund Coffee

Pause, look, see...

What I did not know was that just a few streets away, Warraroon Reserve was patiently waiting for me to turn up. Vaguely I knew that there was bushland nearby. I imagined that it was an area of ugly native scrub and trees. Regardless of what lay beyond the unexplored bush track, I certainly never had time in the past to investigate. Now, with more time than I needed, I decided that it was worth exploring.

The reserve's numerous bushwalks link Riverview and Longueville. There are several entrance and exit points in William Edward Street, River Road West, and Karingal Road. I decided to begin exploring from the bush track near the Tambourine Bay Benches and Tambourine Bay Scout Hall.

As I started the walk, my heart started to sink. It was not just the ugly Australian scrub I had feared; it was a particularly ugly Australian scrub. Then, to make it worse, as I followed the track up and over the hill, I found myself facing a large area of Mangrove Tree, standing kneedeep in mud. Go back? Go on? I correctly chose to go on, and within minutes I saw that the vegetation on both sides of Tambourine Creek is diverse, beautiful, and captivating.

There are prehistoric cathedral ferns in one section, each competing against the other to see who could be the tallest. In another area, the track takes you through a wall of ferns on either side of the path, easily 1.5 meters tall.

The one constant, ever-changing aspect is Tambourine Creek, the spine of the reserve. In dry spells, it can be reduced to a trickle. In normal conditions, it moves along like a tranquil watercourse. After heavy rains, particularly the recent flood bearing rains, the creek becomes a river, and the bush paths become creeks.

The whole reserve is beautiful. It is tranquil (even with the dogs).

After weeks of daily walks, I started to think that I would need to find a new distraction because how many times can you walk the same path? Eventually, the beautiful, the tranquil become commonplace.

Shoelaces have never been my strong point. If they became untied, my view was that they could stay untied until they had learnt their lesson or we were home, whichever was the shorter period. One day I gave in and decided to retie a recalcitrant lace.

I paused. I stopped on the track and tied my lace. I chose the spot randomly, although it did help that there was the trunk of a tree to put my shoe on. At that moment, my eyes opened to the area's diversity on the four metres around me. I saw a myriad trees and ferns in shades of green and brown and the different types of bark.

I looked. I looked up and saw how the trees joined each other to make a collaborative canopy across the

When our world was put on pause by COVID 19, I found it challenging to find distractions that could help my mind wander, even for a brief time, away from the fatigue of the situation.

What happened when Lane Cove local Andrew Giles took daily walks through Warrawoon Reserve

path. I looked down and saw that the log I had just used was covered in soft green moss. I looked under the log to find a family of tiny orange mushrooms peeking out. I was enthralled by the microcosm that I had seen. The next day I paused again in the same spot.

I saw. I noticed that the wind had disturbed the canopy of trees and that the mushroom family had left. The log, however, was still in place covered in its snug green blanket. After this, I saw Warraroon Reserve through a different lens. Every day I paused in another spot, and I found examples of the coming and going of nature in each location.

As I took time to pause on each walk, I began to see the integration of the vegetation animals and creek. I realised that the bush was not made up of individual trees, fern, and grasses but a combination of them all.

The tracks themselves were of interest to me. Were they original paths, if so, who made them? The land's traditional custodians were the Cammeraygal Clan of the Eora nation. Carbon dating of archaeological material suggests the clan lived at least 5,800 years ago.

In 1790 Governor Phillip made one of the first records of the indigenous population in a letter to Lord Sydney. He stated, 'About the north-west part of this harbour there is a tribe which is mentioned as being very powerful. This district is called Cammerra, the head of the tribe is named Cammerragal.

It seems that I had missed the actual value of the Mangrove Trees that I viewed as so ugly. To the Cammeragal Clan, they were an excellent food source given its variety of fish, crustaceans, and shellfish species. The natural sandstone overhang sheltered Clan members above Tambourine Creek and the Lane Cove River.

The overhangs also allowed clan members to express their spiritual connection to the land through rock carvings depicting fish and people. Tragically many of the shelter, and the associated rock art, were destroyed by European settlers who extracted phosphates from the rock to be used in manure as agriculture rapidly spread.

As Governor Philip noted, the Cammeraygal Clan were considered one of Sydney's most formidable indigenous

groups. However, they were not formidable enough to survive the arrival of the Europeans in 1788. Given their location, so close to the European settlement, they were the focus of prolonged and destructive attacks. In 1789, smallpox broke out, devastating most of the clans in the Sydney basin. The continuing waves of disease, violence and dispossession resulted in significant losses of traditional Cammeraygal knowledge, language, and culture. More significant even than smallpox were the ever-expanding needs of the colony. In 1795, 30 acres of land at Kirribilli were granted to ex-convict Samuel Lightfoot. Further land grants quickly followed, and 30 years after the arrival of the Europeans, most of Cammeraygal's land had been granted to colonists. By the 1890s, the original owners were completely displaced.

It is hard for me to equate such suffering and violence with the tranquillity of Warraroon Reserve as I know it. I am very grateful to the Cammeraygal Clan for their custodianship of the land.

It is up to you and me tnow to look after the land. Much work has been done in this area as, as a sign of local awareness of the area's significance, volunteer bush regenerators have been working in the reserve for over 40 years. In late 2011, Riverview's first local Bushcare group was formed in the Warraroon Reserve to enable volunteers to help contribute to its protection and enhancement.

For me, Warraroon Reserve is tranquil, beautiful, everchanging, and constant. I encourage you to walk through this beautiful Australian bush, which is literally on our doorsteps. I encourage you to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land. Most of all, I encourage you to pause, look and see.

Never too late: soccer and champagne for

WORDS: CARMEL SPARKE

When a bunch of Lane Cove mums and friends decided to play football together, most had never kicked a ball before, let alone understood the offside rule.

But more than a decade later, members of that inaugural St Michael’s Football Club over-35s women’s football team have just completed their 12th season together.

Kids who used to hang out on the sideline have long since moved on - finishing primary school, high school and even university - but the women have kept up with their football buddies.

At first it was to do with fitness, fun and the chance to learn a new skill, but over the years it’s become about much more than that, says St Michael’s Football Club Cats team manager Annie Macken.

“The sense of camaraderie is unique. Deep friendships have grown and remain, which is the best thing about the team, and why year after year we return,” Annie says.

“When we started out, football for women wasn’t as popular as it is now.

“We also wanted to show our girls that they could do anything they wanted, that they could be fierce, fearless, and have fun in middle age.”

It started with three friends, Jane McNamara, Leanne Almond and Jen Royle who wanted to go to the Torino 2013 World Masters Games in Italy after playing netball in the Sydney masters games.

They began recruiting for players to take part in a North Shore’s over-35s women’s comp, to develop skills and fitness ahead of the games in Italy.

With kids at St Michael’s Primary School, the women joined the school’s football club, forming its first women’s team in 2010.

St Michael’s player and husband Mike Almond took on the task of turning netballers and novices into footballers, coaching the 18 women on basic skills.

“Some of us were well over 35, but we all wanted to experience a new challenge, learn new skills, and incorporate some fitness into our busy lives,” Annie says.

After their first season, the school’s club had enough player interest to field two women’s teams, the original Cougars and a new team the Cubs.

Now known as the St Michael’s Cats, the founding team has played in numerous divisions over the years in the main winter competition.

This involves 13 rounds, played on Sunday afternoons

local ladies over 35

‘We wanted to show our girls you could be fierce, fearless and have fun in middle age’

at either a local pitch or an away field somewhere on the North Shore.

Games start with a warm up and plenty of pre-match nerves, Dencorub and strapping. They end with champagne, salt and vinegar chips and a post-match debrief.

“Everyone on the team gives it their all for that 90 minutes, whether they’re defending, in goal or up front,” Annie says.

“We’ve won some and we’ve lost some, but so long as we walk off uninjured, we stay positive and focus on what we achieved and what we are grateful for.”

Sideline supporters have been a constant, with husbands, partners, parents, friends and kids turning up to cheer on the team, offering tips and ice for injuries.

Coaches have included St Michael’s players, Peter King and Richard Clarke who have seen the team through mixed fortunes and divisions.

A highlight was winning the 2020 Division 4 league title after an undefeated season.

Some of the team also travelled together to Italy, New Zealand and the Gold Coast to take part in Masters competitions.

“We’ve played in hail, sleet, rain, and slipped and slid in mud, and even under rainbows,” Annie says.

Players have come and gone, and now seven of the original members remain in the Cats.

Others have retired, moved interstate or gone to different clubs, while some players have had time off because of injury or family commitments.

“Friendships forged on the field have seen us through best and worst times together,” Annie says.

“We’ve supported each other through loss of parents, partners and children, we’ve celebrated the births of new babies - sometimes our own kids and sometimes grandkids.

“We’ve been through cancer and illness, separation

and divorces, renovations and moving, HSC parenting and empty nesting.

“This is why 12 years on, we Dencorub our pulled thigh muscles, magnesium spray our calves, strap up our knees, add our podiatry inserts to our soccer boots, and keep running out on the field week after week, year after year.

“The sense of community is undeniable and addictive.”

Playing for St Michael’s Women’s Over-35s

• The winter season typically runs from early April until mid/late August – with games on Sunday afternoons; and training at Pottery Green on Wednesday evenings.

• St Michael’s Football club has teams that cater for all ability levels from U6 up to O45 in both men’s and women’s competition.

• If you want to know more and are interested in joining in the fun for the 2023 season – reach out to Annie Mackin, manager – 0433131844. New players are always welcome.

• The 2022 team included Annie Mackin, Barb DeRoover, Carmel Sparke, Caroline Pittorino, Cath Piper, Cathy Miletta, Emma Sacre, Esther Salman, Fiona Levins, Gita Mathur, Jacqui Du Toit, Jacqui Franchi, Julia Wright, Kate McGovern, Margot Phelps and Michelle McCoy.

• For more information see St Michael’s Football Club website https://stmfc.org.au/

interview:

Ros Gervay local artist

 The Museum of Contemporary Art gives you a big exhibition space - what do you do with it?

After doing the world’s biggest happy dance, I’d get to organising an immersive art experience. Something along the lines of the Van Gogh Alive exhibition but featuring an interactive art project where viewers can take part in the art making process. I love to share with the world not only my art but my enthusiasm for art - the process, the outcome, the personal journey. To be granted a big space in order to evoke that passion in others would be incredibly exciting.

 If you had told your parents that you wanted to be an artist when you grew up, what would their reaction have been?

It’s funny you raise this. When I was a child, I adored Visual Arts. In Year 12, I took three art units and created two major works, one of which was shortlisted for Art Express. I’m not certain if it was simply because of how I was raised, or if it was due to general societal beliefs, but art was not presented as a career option. Whilst my single mum studied Fine Arts when I was young, she didn’t encourage art as a career. Still to this day, she speaks of art as being a hard industry to succeed in. I guess it comes down to your definition of success and also what lights you up enough to persist through the rollercoaster of artist life. This is something I chat a lot about on my podcast Paint Rest Repeat.



Tell us how you ended up an artist...

I ended up studying Design at the College of Fine Arts and later Teaching at the University of Western Sydney. But it was about four years ago now that I came back to painting specifically. And once that brush was in my hand, there was no looking back. I describe it as coming home. While I believe that all people are born to create in some form or other, some people are innately artistic. They are not themselves unless they are creating. That was me and I am sure many of your readers can relate. Once I stood at that easel, my future was set. Now I am a full-time artist and artist mentor and adore my job. And, yes, you can turn your passion into a job. It is OK to make money from something you love.

 Why Lane Cove?

We did the classic north shore parent thing, and started by searching for schools with good academic results.

Lane Cove West PS came up nicely and we loved the connectivity with the city as my family lives on the “other side.” But what only became apparent once we moved to the area was the beautiful sense of community and the Lane Cove Council’s appreciation and support for the Arts. Being a part of the 2022 Lane Cove Festival was such an honour. We love our suburb.



One of the good things about being an artist is always having an exciting project on the go, no matter the weather. At the moment I am working on modern botanical artworks for Art To Art Gallery and The Interiors Assembly in Victoria as well as The Toowoomba Gallery in Queensland, so a spot of rain would not do me any harm.

 You're out in Lane Cove by yourself - where do you go for a moment's serenity?

There is a beautiful spot by the Lane Cove river where I like to sit and breathe. I’m pretty sure other locals think it is “their” spot but if you could please publicly correct them, that would be greatly appreciated ; )

Any ideas how we're going to cope with a third La Nina?

 You're out in Lane Cove for dinner - don't give it too much thought - where do you go?

Sugar Lane for sure! Their food and service is divine. Oh and their cocktails have the seal of approval too.

 You're given three months to live in any city around the world, where is it?

Florence, Italy! I lived there for one month about 15 years ago and I’m certain I left part of my heart behind. The architecture, the culture, the language, the art history just speaks to my soul.

 What's the perfect night in?

I recently caught myself dreaming about watching some of the old movies like Dirty Dancing, Strictly Ballroom and Ghost. The perfect night-in would involve being home alone with old movies, a glass of rose and a cheese platter courtesy of Harris Farm. That would be heaven!

 Give us a snapshot of the artworks on your walls at home…

It may not come as a surprise, but I love supporting my artist friends, so I have works by Rachel Moodie, Isabell Salce, Laura Day, Margaret Westcott, my mum (Elizabeth Gervay) plus a large original by Aboriginal Australian artist Selina Kamprina Numina and a selection of my own pieces. I also have a range of original illustrations from the books of my aunt and award-winning author Susanne Gervay.

 You need cheering up. What do you do?

Go for a walk with a friend and dream up elaborate art plans like interviewing other artists on my YouTube channel, painting live at the Lane Cove Makers Market or starting a Lane Cove Art Trail. Actually, on that, do you want to help me? (Ed – absolutely!)

A message from our CEO, Gill Batt

When Claudia Leach found some isolated Lane Cove residents needing assistance in 1961 she decided to do something about it. Sixty years later we continue her work, inspired by her real commitment for local community support for local people. At the very heart of our organisation are the 300 volunteers who willingly give their time to help others. Whether it be Meals on Wheels, making beds, driving the shopping bus, driving people to medical appointments or visiting older people in aged care homes who otherwise never have any other visitors. All these things are done without any expectation but the knowledge that they are making a difference to people’s lives.

In the past couple of years there has also been an amazing community response for those who are doing it tough. Not just older people but working age people and families who have been impacted by the pandemic and who have reached out to the local community for help to get by. Donations of essential food supplies and vouchers for supermarkets have enabled local people to cope and live with dignity.

If anyone was ever to question the need for local community based support they need look no further than the visitors to our offices in Hunters Hill and Lane Cove and listen to the calls we receive from desperate people not sure of where to turn. We have always had strong connections with our local councils but the past couple of years have cemented those partnerships and we have worked closely with Lane Cove Council, Hunters Hill Council and Ryde Council.

I really hope that we are getting towards the end of the crisis but however it pans out I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter in the story started all that time ago in the Lane Cove roads when Claudia found the inspiration for change.

Happy 60th birthday Sydney Community Services

Founded by Claudia Leach in 1961, SCS quietly, amidst the pandemic, celebrated 60 years of being the beating heart of community services in Lane Cove, Hunters Hill and beyond. Here we recount a history of how this unique service came into existence and has grown to become the powerhouse it is now.

WORDS: DR KAY LEIPER

Last year, in the pandemonium of the second wave of the pandemic, Sydey Community Services [SCS] quietly turned 60. Anniversary celebrations have gone uncelebrated because of COVID, so now perhaps is the time to congratulate the present organisation for its amazing service to our local community and to look back to see how it came into being and why such a service was needed.

SCS has had several incarnations, beginning first as the Lane Cove Community Aid Service in 1961, changing in 2011 to Lane Cove & North Side Community Services before becoming Sydney Community Services in 2017 through a merger with Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services.

The last five years have seen radical changes in disability support services with individualised NDIS budgets, in seniors’ care policy with and increasingly ageing population, and in health and wellbeing requirements to ward off social isolation. In response, SCS has realigned the traditional forms of care to cater for the complex needs of each person receiving the care.

Along with a staff of 16 full-timers and 50 part-timers, more than 300 volunteers provide almost 100,000 hours of care every year.

The services on offer are not designed to duplicate assistance offered by other social service agencies; rather, they provide holistic support to any resident, regardless of income and age, under four umbrellas: disability services, services for seniors, services relating to health and personal care and community connections.

The aim is to foster a good quality of life and to enable people to remain independent and living in their own homes.

SCS, headquartered in the suburb where it began, has come a long way since inception.

When Claudia Leach decided that Lane Cove needed to establish an organisation that would bridge the gap between community and loneliness, between wealth and want, she set in motion a volunteer operation that has unfailingly held out a helping hand to residents for over half a century.

The idea came to her whilst she was busy doorknocking on her 1959 election campaign for Lane Cove local council.

Some doors she knocked on were slowly opened by shuffling seniors, some opened onto the chaos of noisy children and a clearly stressed parent,

some by a disabled resident. Behind these doors there was a need for help with meals, child-minding, housework, laundry, loneliness.

Claudia - she hated her Welsh name, Gladwys –was described as ‘indomitable’ ‘energetic’, ‘iron willed’, ‘formidable’.

She was intensely involved in her community, supporting local arts and theatre and was one of the driving forces behind the Lane Cove Plaza and initiatives to keep Lane Cove green and leafy.

She and fellow councillor, Marjorie Propsting, were vanguard females in local government.

It is not entirely clear whether some newspaper and magazine articles of the time were, or were not, quietly mocking such women. For instance, the Australian Women’s Weekly in 1961 reported Leach saying that she finds that “men who make the best councillors are those who listen to their wives,” adding that “Local government can be too finicky for a man.”

Clearly, she had the confidence and courage to dedicate herself to any idea she considered a good one.

She listened to mothers complain about a traffic black spot where children had to cross and helped to install a police warden; a widow suddenly left with five children and no readily available money sought her help and she listened, and she listened to an older single businesswoman whose sudden eviction notice left her without the home she had rented for many years.

Duly elected, ‘formidable’ Claudia argued her proposal before Council. She wanted to set up a ‘Pool of Service’, a functioning, accountable, community organisation.

Council agreed to sponsor this “most original” enterprise and, in doing so, Lane Cove Community Aid Service was born and earned Lane Cove the A.R. Bluett Memorial Award for being the most developed and progressive municipality in 1961.

Since inception, Lane Cove Council has maintained close co-operation with Lane Cove Community Aid, recognising its valuable service to residents.

Without any administrative or executive interference, they provide a yearly subsidy and in 1965, provided the premises at 164 Longueville Road in which LCCAS could operate.

Today it is housed, for peppercorn rent, in Council property at 1 Pottery Lane. In those early years Leach was supported by a group of likeminded people and other community organisations who pledged their volunteer support to address the welfare needs of Lane Cove’s then 24,000 residents.

The first Committee had 20 members from the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Apex Club, the Churches, the Minister’s Fraternal, local businesses, Civil Defence, RSL, Baby Health Centre, P&C Associations, CWA, Smith Family, Red Cross, Legacy and private citizens.

By 1981 they were raising around $9,000 per year. In all, more than 200 individuals, clubs, organisations and companies supported LCCAS and many of these continue do so.

Claudia developed a marketing plan and produced a publicity brochure that was dropped into every house in the municipality. It outlined the services offered and enclosed a large triangular cardboard ‘H for Help’ sign

which you were to put in the front window of your house if you needed emergency assistance.

Early services were the Home Companion Service and Meals on Wheels. In the archives, there is a newspaper photograph of volunteers ladling food out of two huge saucepans on hotplates in the boot of a car. The volunteers then hand-delivered the hot meals to recipients, often stopping for a quick chat.

Today, meals are prepared in a state-of-the-art kitchen and packaged into high-quality microwaveable packs Over 20,000 meals make their way out of the kitchen each year.

The Home Companion Service also commenced in 1964. Volunteers visited housebound residents as well as locals in convalescent homes and hospitals. In that year, the volunteers of the Rotary Ladies’ Auxiliary acquired $300 (nearly $14,000 today) worth of nursing equipment and a donated wheelchair to add to the four already in use. These were on loan, free of charge, to needy residents, as well as crutches, commodes, bed cradles and rests.

By 1969 LCCAS rose to the challenge of 20,000 cases. Clearly, it was performing a much-needed service.

LCCAS came to the attention of other municipalities who sought information about how to set up such aid services. This saw Claudia addressing meetings of other interested residents of municipalities. Later, she would address audiences in Europe, Canada, the United States and Japan.

In a 1972 speech, Claudia said that throughout her travels she had seen “many far more expensive and elaborate services [but] she had encountered none so personal, so co-ordinated and so efficient as the LCCAS.”

Claudia foresaw that the future of care for the elderly should partly rely on “subsidies that should be paid to

families to enable their elderly relatives to be cared for at home with some assistance.”

Child minding was also on her agenda for “widows, deserted wives and unmarried mothers.”

Welfare counselling was introduced in 1982, and more services were introduced in 1987 with the Home Maintenance and Modification Service.

By 2000, LCCAS operated with $820,000 grant money and $98,000 in donations. It had over 30 administration staff plus 260 volunteers.

13 services were offered with a Lower North Shore Gardening Service added in 2002 and funded by the government. This was in response to research that noted that it was often the garden—the client’s ‘window on the world’—that was a deciding factor for moving into supported accommodation. The expanded Gardening Service kept seniors in their homes for longer. In-Home Podiatry was added in 2003. It became the third largest program in the organisation. A Linen Service was introduced in 2004. Government grants totalled over a million dollars with services running at breakeven or a small deficit.

On its 50th anniversary, LCCAS changed its name to Lane Cove & North Side Community Services [LCNSCS]. Funding was extended to cover the widening of its services which would now accept clients living in the local government areas of Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby.

Fifteen services were extended to support the community throughout the lower north shore and beyond. The new Community Care Advisory Service, an informal counselling and support service providing information and advocacy to those who need it, reflected the changing demographics and needs of residents.

For example, “an 89-year-old carer asked about getting

Over 20,000 meals make their way out of the kitchen each year

help for her 102-year-old husband.” It is an invaluable community service. A frequent situation is one where a progressive illness develops, such as dementia, or immobility triggers carers and families to look at available care options, including residential care. The Community Care Advisory Service can explain all available options with expertise, patience and understanding.

In July 2017, Sydney Community Services [SCS] was established following a merger between Lane Cove and North Side Community Services and Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services. This move addressed changes in government policy and the trend to move from small local entities to larger regional, state and national not-for-profit organisations.

Nowadays, it is a wide-ranging service Claudia would be proud of.

Social support groups meet in the Community Hubs in Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and the Meeting House in Lane Cove North.

Group outings are a regular fixture with bus trips to places of interest and lunches in cafes and restaurants.

Support for carers continues with advice on what is required to provide holistic care. With a referral from a GP, Hospital Discharge Planner, or Aged Care Assessment Team, recipients can take advantage of services such as inhome nursing organised within a few days. Nurses and Personal Care Workers visit clients in homes across the lower north shore and beyond.

In 2019 Community Connections initiated a targeted early intervention program with Reach Higher. This aimed to support and empower young people who have difficulty accessing basic supports due to extenuating factors such as isolation or financial disadvantage. SCS continues to implement material supports to circumvent crisis points.

Also, with a Federal Government grant, a new program was introduced to mentor seniors with free weekly twohour face-to-face technology tutorials. The program proved very popular and continued until COVID-19 arrived.

All in all, in the year ending June 2019, SCS provided 36,367 services; delivered 25,116 home delivered meals, maintained 735 homes and gardens and undertook 319 home modifications.

It changed 797 beds, made 2,144 home podiatry visits, provided 708 clients with domestic assistance. Voluntary social support spent 25,746 hours with groups, 15,349 hours of voluntary disability support for groups, 4,563 hours of

individual support (phone or online shopping), 1,807 hours of respite care and 546 hours of advisory and counselling.

SCS now engages partnerships with tertiary educational institutions to give practical experience to those choosing a career in community service.

Students from University of Sydney, Western Sydney, Macquarie and the Australian Catholic Universities and Meadowbank TAFE accumulated over three and a half thousand hours with SCS. Such programs are a positive win-win for students looking to gain experience and for SCS clients.

Although the services were well placed to cope with the onslaught of COVID-19, and all the essential services continued, SCS had to quickly modify procedures.

Volunteers continued to deliver as many services as they could, despite the limitations posed by the pandemic. A Pandemic Support Program mandated procedures for social distancing and sanitisation. Volunteers received training and directed clients to put a table outside their front door to receive home delivered meals and supplies. Keeping their distance, volunteers made sure the client was able to receive the meal whilst they assessed their health at the same time.

Procedures to provide clean linen to those unable to make their beds were modified. Those unable to have friends or relatives to assist were visited by SCS nurses and personal care assistants instead of the regular volunteers.

Understandably, many were reluctant to visit the shops in the lockdown and there was a 30% increase in home delivered meals during May and June.

There was a 10-fold increase in the number of families in need of crisis support.

SCS worked together with local grocers, churches and community members to source and deliver food and necessities such as toiletries. With the support of Harris Farms and the charity Touched By Olivia, it was able to provide emergency food parcels to families in need, including the women and children staying at Delvena Women’s Refuge.

Because of the restrictions of the pandemic, the number of services delivered dipped 16%, but given the enormous impact of the lockdowns and restrictions, SCS still managed to deliver 30,526 services to those requiring assistance.

Perhaps it is a little early to predict how 2022 will turn out, but the staff and dedicated volunteers of Lane Cove’s own homegrown community aid service will continue to provide the means by which many disabled, disadvantaged and senior residents will be able to experience a quality life in their own homes and by which young, distressed families will be able to avoid crisis with educational, wellbeing and financial support.

SOURCES:

Lane Cove Library Local Studies Archives https://trove.nla.gov.au https://www.sydneycs.org/about-us/annual-reports/

Here’s to a belated 60th Anniversary!

WHAT’S ON JANUARY 2023

Table Tennis

Recommences: Fri 6 Jan 2023

Lane Cove Hub Activities

HEAD OFFICE

1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove

P: 9427 6425

Book Club

Recommences: Mon 17 Jan 2023

Social Bridge/Solo/ Rummikub

Recommences: Thurs 5 Jan 2023

Scrabble Recommences: Thurs 12 Jan 2023

Mah Jong Recommences: Wed 4 Jan 2023

Movement Matters

Tuesdays + Wednesdays

Term starts in Feb 2023. Call for details.

BOOMers Mens Group

BOOMers is for senior independently mobile men who enjoy an opportunity to socialise and visit interesting places in the company of other men.

When: Fridays Departs: 10.00am from Lane Cove Hub, Pottery Lane Returns: 2.00pm Cost: $20 including morning tea and lunch

E: hheggie@ sydneycs.org

Hunters Hill Seniors Hub

Hunters Hill-Ryde Hub Activities

46 Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill

P: 8598 7051

All-day tailored program for seniors, from Monday to Friday. The program includes excursions, picnics, and wellness activities. Door-to-door transport and nutritious meals and snacks catering for all dietary requirements are included.

Cost: $35.00

Contact us for a monthly program.

E: rliu@sydneycs.org

Seniors Social Support:

For Afghan, Chinese, Iranian, Italian, and Spanish seniors

Each group is supported by bilingual staff and volunteers to meet and share their cultural heritage and interests. Social inclusion activities such as excursions, cultural celebrations, English language conversation classes, wellness activities and information sessions are offered at: City of Ryde, Hunters Hill, and Parramatta LGA venues.

E: tliu@sydneycs.org

Day Trips for Seniors

Tuesdays and Fridays

Weekly, full and half-day trips, including door-todoor transport. Visiting places of interest and beauty, around Sydney and its surrounds. Contact us for a monthly program.

E: hheggie@ sydneycs.org

Meeting House Hub Activities

23a Strokes Street Lane Cove North

P: 9003 1399

Senior Services

Seniors Social Bus Outings Mondays and Wednesdays

Monthly Trivia and lunch at the Meeting House Hub Cost: $30

E: jvenn@sydneycs.org

Seniors Shopping Bus Tuesdays and Thursdays

RECOMMENCES

3RD JANUARY 2023

Return trip from your home to Lane Cove shops. Cost: $12

E: jvenn@sydneycs.org

Contact us for a monthly bus program or more information regarding any of our services

www.sydneycs.org

Seniors Hub every Friday

Centre Based Service for over 65 year olds.

Providing a safe, warm and engaging environment for people who would like to spend more time with other seniors. The hub offers a tailored program providing a break for family carers.

For more details contact Rosemary E: rliu@sydneycs.org

Older Women

Exercise Class Tuesdays

Strength and balance exercise every Tuesday Time: 10.00 am – 11.00 am Cost: $12.00

E: ccampion@ sydneycs.org

Buses available for Hire

 21 seat Toyota Coaster Buses x2

18 seat Toyota Coaster Bus x 1 - with wheelchair hoist  12 seat Toyota HiAce Vans x4

Our vehicles are fully maintained, sanitised, COVID-19 safe and available seven days a week. We have safe accredited drivers also available for hire.

Pricing and info please contact: P: 9003 1399 E: support@sydneycs.org

Disability Supports

Group community access activities from Monday – Friday in centres and community. The activities include drama ensemble, creative movement, full and half-day excursions, Sailablity, art groups and virtual meetups. Cost: based on the NDIS pricing schedule.

Individual support, including transport, daily living activities and community access available on request.

E: gstarkey@sydneycs.org or ccampion@sydneycs.org

Save the Date

A Month of Activities in February 2023 for NSW Seniors Festival. Celebrating with Sydney Community Services

EVENTS:

• Monday 7 February 2023: Stay Balanced. Falls Prevention with Sally Castel.

• Monday 13 February 2023: Celebrating Seniors Luncheon, Parkview Room.

• Wednesday 15 February 2023: High Tea at the Meeting House.

• Friday 24 February 2023: Celebrating Together with the Lane Cove Choristers

Enquiries and Bookings - P: 9427 6425 E: support@sydneycs.org

Movie and Morning Tea

Ticket to Paradise starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney

Children’s Services

- Playgroups

Cost: $10 casual visit, or $60 one session per term, or $100 per term for multiple sessions.

Tuesday Playgroups Ages 0-5 - 9.30-11.30am

Thursday Possiblities Playgroup

All inclusive Ages 0-5, 9.30-11.30am

E: jvenn@ sydneycs.org

Room available for Hire

• 30th January 2023

• 9.00am-1.00pm

Bookings and enquiries: 9427 6425 Email: support@sydneycs.org

Make, Bake and Decorate Cupcake Workshop

• Wednesday 18 January 2023, 10am-12pm

@

TheMeeting

House 23a Stokes st Lane Cove

Large double room, outside area, plus kitchen

$55 per hour incl GST

For pricing and info please contact: P: 9003 1399 E: support@sydneycs.org

• At the Meeting House Hub, 23a Stokes St, Lane Cove North

Includes ingredients and a decorating kit. Morning tea included. Ages 6-12 welcome. Bookings and enquiries: 9427 6425 Email: support@sydneycs.org

Limited spaces available

Defibrillators in Lane Cove

Lane Cove Mens Shed

Tantallon Oval

LANE COVE NORTH

Lane Cove Plaza

• Blackman Park

• Lower Field

LANE COVE WEST LINLEY POINT

– Blackman Park Hughes Park

LANE COVE RIVERVIEW NORTHWOOD LONGUEVILLE

Living and Learning Centre

Pottery Green Oval Lane Cove Council Civic Centre Lane Cove Library Kindy Cove The Canopy Sydney Community Services Lane Cove Aquatic Centre Woolworths Lane Cove

GREENWICH

Burns Bay Reserve

Kingsford Smith Oval

The Diddy River Road, West Longueville

Bob Campbell Oval (Gore Creek)

Greenwich Baths

Sydney Community Services Value Statement

Collaboration

We welcome and action great ideas from new and existing stakeholders

Respect

We value each person as a unique individual and treat their needs, choices and beliefs with respect

Compassion

We take thoughtful, empathetic, and caring action to support people

Inclusion

We welcome people from all backgrounds, ensuring that they feel seen and heard

Quality

We provide a high quality standard of care at all times

What I watched on TV…

Here again, six of the best from TV critic Stephen Miller. Also worth a watch is Todd Sampson’s documentary Mirror, Mirror – Love & Hate on (10 play), the drama Faking Hitler on (SBS OnDemand) and the movie-length documentary Fastest Woman on Earth (Binge).

The Cleaning Company (SBS OnDemand)

Ever wondered who cleans up after suicides, murders and hoarders’ houses once the police investigations are over?

The Cleaning Company explores the complex world of trauma cleaning. These professional cleaners maintain dignity, sensitive care and compassion while they remove hazards and harmful health risks such as blood, biofluids, rats and syringes.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Excellent, well-made fly-on-the-wall documentary.

Lambs of God (Binge and Foxtel Now)

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this, apart from knowing Jessica Barden played Alyssa in The End of the F***ing World. I suggest you watch it and expect the unexpected. Essie Davis (Australia), Jessica Barden (UK) and Ann Dowd (US) head up the global cast in what is an international co-production. It purports to be set in Ireland but was beautifully filmed in Tasmania and NSW. Plot holes appear often but can easily be overlooked in the spirit of entertainment.

★★★½

Why you should watch it: Different, highly engrossing, and beautifully filmed.

The White Lotus – Series 2 (Binge and Foxtel Now)

In some ways, it’s a less frustrating experience than the first series but maybe not as punchy. While the vibe is different, class, racial and sexual politics continue to demonstrate the flaws, fickleness and fallibilities often displayed by the over-privileged superrich. The characters are wonderfully flawed and dishonest but occasionally endearing.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Fresh with a strong cast and beautifully shot in Sicily.

Fisk – Series 2 (ABC iView)

When writer, actor, producer, director, comedian, satirist, author, and podcaster Kitty Flanagan puts out a show, you can be sure it will be good. I think she’s the country’s most watchable, creative, and talented comedian. This second series carries on from the first and is equally as fun.

FUN FACT: The show rates exceptionally well in France because French women say they closely identify with her character.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Funny, light and entertaining.

Only Murders in the Building –Series 2 (Disney+)

Only Murders in the Building is a classic murder mystery parody that gets a new lease on life while retaining the core charm and wit of the first series. It’s clever, carefully observed, self-aware humour, which season 2 continues to develop further. Once again, Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short deliver great chemistry and laughs in a solid follow-up season that supplies more background on their characters and the building itself.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: One of the more unique and expertly crafted comedies on the telly.

Now into its fifth season, it’s hard not to feel that this series has lost some of its crown jewel sparkles. Peter Morgan’s drama does continue to be immensely entertaining, just not what it used to be. A sterling cast makes this a must-see, especially if you’ve watched previous seasons. So, how accurate is it? Well, Dominic West, who plays Charles, is way too handsome for a start, but as to what he says and does… I’ll leave that to conjecture.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: An addictive drama with excellent production values, acting and sharp

The Crown – Series 5 (Netflix)

What I watched on TV…

There’s been some good telly around, from Old People’s Home for Teenagers on ABC iView to House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones on Binge; TV critic Stephen Miller has been digging around the streamers for what else is also worth a watch.

Four Lives (SBS OnDemand)

A powerful and moving true crime drama that’s hard to take your eyes off. It follows the aftermath of four murders of young men by the serial killer and rapist Stephen Port between 2014 and 2015. Stephen Merchant, better known for comedy, is haunting as Stephen Port and portrays this killer’s slow but cunning mind exceptionally well—something the police failed to comprehend.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Gripping, intense UK true crime drama.

Ku’damm 56 (SBS OnDemand)

Berlin 1956, Frau Schöllack, owner of a dance school, wants only the best for her three daughters—to marry well and become obedient little hausfraus. The sisters do their best to live up to their mother’s high expectations, but it’s not easy in such changing times. Despite subtitles and episodes being 90 minutes long, I guarantee you’ll also very quickly slide into Ku’damm 59 and Ku’damm 63, which continues this postwar German tale.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it: Superb, highly engrossing, beautifully written, and wonderfully acted.

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe (Binge)

Based on the extraordinary true story of how prison officer John Darwin faked his death in 2007 to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy, this offbeat four-part series is as captivating as it is entertaining. With stellar performances from the cast, led by Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe proves truth really is stranger than fiction—you just couldn’t make this stuff up.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: The sheer bonkers nature of the crime makes for an even more gripping, highly watchable drama.

The Bear (Apple TV+)

A talented young chef from the world of fine dining comes home to run his family sandwich shop in Chicago following the death of his brother. He struggles to balance the realities of small business ownership, recalcitrant kitchen staff and strained family relationships. The Bear is a mix of understated creative genius, brotherhood and internal conflict, served up with some great food.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: Often stressful and frenetic, this is must-see television.

The Serpent Queen (Stan)

The Serpent Queen dramatises one of history’s most infamous monarchs with a deft, sardonic touch. It’s riveting, raunchy, raucous and a breath of fresh air. Catherine de’ Medici, the great Medici-born queen and regent of France, was unquestionably a brilliant and strong woman. Samantha Morton does an excellent job of portraying this extremely complex Queen without overplaying it.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: Great acting, authentic costumes and an exciting storyline.

undressed (Paramount+)

This first-of-its-kind social experiment sets out to discover whether we can change our lives just by changing our clothes. The show’s host, entertainment journalist Kathryn Eisman quickly reveals her unique ability to read what’s going on in someone’s life simply by looking at what they are wearing. Kathryn releases all the issues holding back an eclectic group of Australians simply by changing their clothes.

★★★½

Why you should watch it: undressed takes a fun, fascinating dive into the language and psychology of our clothing choices.

What I watched on TV…

Romantic and family relationships, friendships or acquaintanceships always come with complex challenges. TV critic Stephen Miller goes rustling around in other people’s baggage via some excellent relationships-based telly programs.

Marriage (ABC iView)

Marriage soon reveals that this will be far from a comfortable ride. It explores the highs and lows of the long-term marital relationship rollercoaster.

Episodes are an hour long and very well done but frustratingly hard to sit through at times. But that’s the point. Whether it’s feelings of inadequacy, uncertainty or self-pity, Marriage shows how perfectly normal these things are for us all.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it:

Despite the dithering and challenging conversations, it’s an exceptionally made drama.

The Dry (SBS OnDemand)

Not to be confused with the Eric Bana movie of the same name, this Irish comedy-drama sees family chaos, put trying to stay sober, to the ultimate test. Described by The Guardian as ‘like an Irish Fleabag’, The Dry sees Shiv (Roisin Gallagher) return from years of partying in London to her family home in Dublin in the hope of a fresh start. The Dry has no weak parts; the script, acting, casting and production are superb.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it: I enjoyed this more than the excellent aforementioned Fleabag

Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)

Bad Sisters is a dark Irish comedy thriller set in Dublin. If you don’t know the Belgian series Clan on which it’s based, think Big Little Lies with Irish humour. The story is about a family trying to save one of their own from a monstrous husband. Some may find it too dark, others too comedic, given that at its core is domestic violence. Bad Sisters, though, often finds reasons to make its viewers laugh which is a testament to how well it’s written.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it:

The superb Sharon Horgan is on top form, both as the writer and actor.

My Brilliant Friend Series 3 (SBS OnDemand)

My Brilliant Friend is based on the four-book Neapolitan series from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, Elena Ferrante. Immersive and moreish, this exquisitely made Italian series follows two friends, Elena and Lila, from childhood to adulthood. They navigate education, work, and marriage while maintaining their complex but loyal friendship. Series four finale is currently in production, so expect that to release in early 2023.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it:

Start from season one if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s sublime television.

The Bridge Australia (Paramount+)

The Bridge Australia is a reality show where 12 strangers from diverse backgrounds come together in the Tasmanian wilderness to build a bridge. They can only use what lies around them for construction to get to $250,000 sitting on an island 330 metres away. They only have 17 days to reach their goal; like most things in life, it won’t be straightforward.

The producers will constantly put temptation and problems in their way.

Think Survivor meets Lego Masters.

★★★½

Why you should watch it:

You enjoy these risk and reward competition shows.

The Great Pottery Throw Down (Series 5 on Binge) (Series 1–4 on Britbox)

A reality show where amateur potters compete against one another in a pottery competition doesn’t immediately sound fascinating—but it’s enthralling! I’ve watched all five series and have enjoyed learning about the many technical processes and how varied results are obtained using different clays and firing methods. Think Masterchef for pottery. One of the hosts, Keith, is a lovely man passionate about his craft.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it:

This is what reality shows should be about—inspiring people to develop their skills, not 15 minutes of fame.

What I watched on TV…

The lighter Spring evenings might be just around the corner, but there are still a few good reasons to stay snuggled up on the couch says TV critic Stephen Miller.

Black Bird (Apple TV+)

When James Keene is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum-security prison without parole, he cuts a deal with the FBI. Instead, he will enter a maximumsecurity prison for the criminally insane and befriend suspected serial killer, Larry Hall. His job will be to get a confession from Hall and find out where the bodies of as many as eighteen women might be buried.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: Exceptional quality drama which gorilla grips you from the very get-go.

The Resort (Stan)

Like many mysteries, The Resort certainly twists and turns. Occasionally though it struggles to make the pieces fit, while still keeping the story moving along. At times I felt like I was watching a teen drama, but any reservations are soon forgiven due to the intriguing premise and great cast. The performances and chemistry of William Harper and Cristin Milioti—who play a couple trying to re-find their love—will alone make you want to finish the series

★★★½

Why you should watch it: While not the best show I’ve watched this year, it was still satisfying entertainment.

Trying Series 1, 2 and 3 (Apple TV+)

Now into its third series, Nikki and Jason are still as keen as ever for a baby—something that’s so far eluded them. Adoption seems the only way forward, but with dysfunctional friends, crazy families and chaotic lives, the adoption panel might be forgiven for thinking they’re not yet ready to be parents. Trying series 3 continues to pull at the heartstrings and be just as funny as the first series.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it: Trying is a beautiful show with great chemistry between the leads and an excellent supporting cast.

Canadian comedian, Nathan Fielder, returns to television with this slightly odd show that explores the lengths one person will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. Fielder stages various scenarios to help ordinary people prepare for an upcoming big moment in their lives by exploring what may go wrong. The idea is, that they then gain the confidence to perform the real-life task better than they might have.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: As fascinating as it is absurd, you’ll either love it or hate it.

The Village (SBS OnDemand)

The Village chronicles the lives of the people of a small English country village as they struggle to adjust to the stormy upheaval brought by WWI. This is not cosy feel-good entertainment and its dark themes and solid period realism makes for emotionally harrowing, but undeniably brilliant, viewing. Watching a drama so well made, scripted and beautifully filmed made me reflect on how fortunate we all are today.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: This excellent and important piece of television drama will engross and deeply move you.

Cobra Series 1 & 2 (Binge)

You’ll need to suspend belief and also allow plot holes straight through to the keeper, but it’s still a highly watchable drama with good performances from a stellar cast. The blending of political drama with apocalyptic horror is just about achieved, but for what is such an urgent situation, it does seem to progress along at a less than urgent pace. I enjoyed it though and is definitely worth your time

★★★★

Why you should watch it: The backroom politics alone will maintain a strong grip on your attention.

The Rehearsal (Disney+)

What I watched on TV…

Time to set the table as we serve up a spread of the gourmet dishes TV critic Stephen Miller polished off recently

Das Boot Series 1, 2 & 3 (SBS OnDemand)

This small screen version of Das Boot maintains the atmospheric pressure of its cinematic forebear, making for a riveting international quality production. Das Boot is a WWII yarn, a thriller and love story all at once, and served up using a twin story narrative. I took a deep dive into all three series in July and surfaced much the better for it. If, like me, you’ll watch anything WWII, then this is a doozy.

If this were a meal, it would be: Nürnberger rostbratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut.

Everything I Know About Love (Stan)

This TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s 2018 memoir Everything I Know About Love follows the lives of two best friends navigating their early 20s in a London share house. It captures well the high octane pace of people this age enjoy. For those of us over 50— oh all right, 60, I did feel 45 minutes episodes were a tad long—30 minutes might have been less exhausting. While occasionally frivolous, it’s an absolute blast—I not only got it, I also really enjoyed it.

If this were a meal, it would be: Vodka Cruisers.

The Witchfinder (ABC iView)

A 17th-century witchfinder and his suspect (who just won’t shut up), find themselves on a hellish road trip through drunken cavaliers, religious fanatics, con-men and beekeepers. If you’re open to it, then this is actually quite a funny show. If not, you’ll probably hate it. Had it taken a more ‘Blackadderish’ direction, it would have been more universally funny. Instead, however, it plods along doggedly in the more forlorn farce of quiet reserve championed by the excellent The Detectorists.

If this were a meal, it would be: Two-day-old pottage (akin to a modern day stew).

Only Murders In The Building (Disney+)

Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves caught up in one. Following a gory death inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects foul play and so employ their knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. If you’re looking for something new and refreshing, this may be the show for you. Classic comedy from the duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short while Selena Gomez is less good but effortlessly goes along for the ride.

1,

&

A BBC production, the series introduces the Defoes, a family of female divorce lawyers known for their ruthless domination of the fast-paced London divorce law circuit. It’s an authentic and interesting look at how four very different women attempt to hold their ground in all areas of their lives—from relationships to their careers. It’s highly addictive. The third series is available on ABC iView, but series 1 and 2 are available to stream on Stan.

The Pier (SBS OnDemand)

This Spanish drama is tense, unexpected, and highly engaging. If you liked Money Heist, then you’ll probably like this too. A high-profile architect faces her worst nightmare after getting a call from the police advising her husband’s body has been found on a pier in the beautiful Albufera landscape outside Valencia. Suicide? Seems unlikely, as they had been making plans for their future only hours ago? Worse news, though, is to follow.

If this were a meal, it would be: A large hand-tossed, thin crust, Neapolitan-style pizza.

If this were a meal, it would be: An Eton Mess with a dollop of clotted cream.

If this were a meal, it would be: A seafood paella served with an endive and pomegranate salad.

The Split Series

2

3 (Stan Series 1 & 2 – ABC iView Series 3)

What I watched on TV…

Prehistoric Planet (Apple TV+)

Travel back 66 million years to when dinosaurs and other extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas and skies. Prehistoric Planet combines award-winning wildlife filmmaking, the latest paleontology learnings and state-of-the-art technology. Add to that classic Sir David Attenborough commentary and you have a hyperrealistic, highly absorbing wildlife programme about life on ancient Earth.

★★★★

If this were a car, it would be: Jaguar E Type - timeless, beautiful, digitised history.

Conversations With Friends (Amazon Prime)

This slow moving, sexy drama progresses at such a slow pace you could rightly describe that as glacial. But I’m a fan of the slow burn and Alison Oliver is the standout for me playing the socially awkward Frances. Based on Sally Rooney’s acclaimed novel of the same name, it touches many emotions and as with Normal People before it (on the small screen but after it in book chronology), you will either be enthralled or bored - I loved it.

★★★★★

If this was a car, it would be: VW Beetle - sluggish, solid, reliable and fun.

The Staircase (Binge)

In 2001, author and aspiring local politician, Michael Peterson, was charged with murder after the suspicious death of his wife Kathleen. The Staircase doesn’t hold many surprises if you’re already familiar with the original documentary, but this dramatisation does bring a different perspective to the mystery. Colin Firth does a good job at playing the unlikeable, narcissistic Michael Peterson, instead of normally making audiences swoon.

★★★★

If this were a car, it would be: Citroën 2CV - Familiar, slow and drives like a waterbed.

Hacks returns for its second season, which sees the dysfunctional couple Ava and Deborah, hit the road. This smart comedy really understands human behaviour and how that can be affected by the world of show business. I thought season one was great, but I loved this second season even more. What a thrilling, funny and excellent ride!

★★★★★

If this were a car, it would be: Porsche 911 - famous, smooth, quality, unchanged design.

Walkley

seeks to find a resolution for the families of a series of shootings and bombings that killed four people and critically injured dozens in the 1980s. Known as the ‘Family Court Murders’, these brutal attacks were fueled by the bitter custody dispute that ensued between Leonard Warwick and his wife Andrea. This fourpart doco has merit but would have been much improved further being spliced down to just two episodes.

★★★

If this were a car, it would be: A stretched limousine - long, captivating and driven by a proficient chauffeur.

Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)

Recently widowed, Cora has relocated to a small village in Essex, where she becomes intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature (known as the Essex Serpent) has returned to the area. The Essex Serpent is an accomplished Gothic romance with captivating performances. This is not a period drama where everything is rosy and colourful - in fact quite the reverse. It is though very endearing, has real depth and wonderful characters. I really enjoyed this show.

★★★★

If this were a car, it would be: 1955 Citroën DS 19 - romantic, creative and very mysterious.

Here are six programmes our TV critic Stephen Miller has enjoyed taking for a test drive recently.

Hacks Series 2 (Stan)

Family Court Murders (ABC iView)

award-winning investigative journalist and author, Debi Marshall,

What I watched on TV…

As winter closes in, 'tis the time to open a bottle of your favourite drink, curl up on the sofa and enjoy some good telly. Here’s what our TV critic Stephen Miller has watched over the last month.

Heartstopper (Netflix)

When Heartstopper, the UK drama about two high school boys in love, began getting perfect scores from critics around the world, it was a simple decision to hop onto to Netflix and check it out. This inclusive look at a same sex romance is told with faultless sensitivity and is both endearing and highly engaging. It certainly deserves the accolades received. Heartstopper has recently been renewed by Netflix for a second series.

★★★★★

If this was a wine, it would be: A savoury Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé.

Ten Percent (Amazon Prime)

Having adored the French original of the show Call My Agent!/Dix pour cent, I was intrigued to watch this British remake. It follows a very similar storyline, and therein lies the problem for me. Why remake a classic if you bring nothing new to the party? It’s neither as funny nor as sophisticated as the original. That said though, it’s still a lot of fun and I finished the series.

★★★½

If it was a wine, it would be: A light, citrus driven Chablis.

A Very British Scandal (Amazon Prime)

This is the story of the tumultuous and infamous marriage between Margaret Sweeney and Captain Ian Campbell, better known as the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. Claire Foy and Paul Bettany expertly play this loathsome couple as they flirt and fight their way through this real-life, sordid 1960s scandal. As with all BBC period dramas, expect great costumes and delightful locations. Claire Foy portrays a posh pom so awfully well.

★★★★

If it was a wine, it would be: Extra-dry Champagne darling.

Julia (Binge)

Julia explores the life of the television chef Julia Child, who pioneered the cooking-show genre back in the 1960s. Part of the success of this dramatisation is how it not only thrills us with Julia Child’s achievements, but it also reveals the sometimes vulnerable woman behind all the infectious, persuasive joie de vivre. One of the most pleasant and joyful watches in a long time. Bon appétit.

★★★★½

If this was a wine, it would be: A fruity, vibrant Beaujolais Nouveau

LUST (Binge)

Swedish actors Sofia Helin, Anja Lundqvist, Julia Dufvenius and Elin Klinga star as four middle-aged friends struggling with limp sex lives. LUST offers very pleasurable comedic relief while still providing a serious look at the important topics of sexual harassment, marriage counselling, and womanhood over 40. Each 30-minute episode gives equal attention to the show’s four protagonists and their erotic trials and tribulations.

★★★½

If this was a wine, it would be: A fruity, floral Chenin Blanc.

Shining Girls (Apple TV+)

Elizabeth Moss is astounding in this slightly strange, but terrifically intriguing mystery. It takes unexpected turns that keep us guessing and eager to know what will happen next. Moss plays a newspaper archivist who’s dreams of becoming a journalist are on hold, following a brutal, traumatising attack years earlier. After a woman is murdered in similar circumstances, Kirby (Moss) teams up with investigative journalist Dan (Wagner Moura) to track down the killer.

★★★★

If this was a wine, it would be: A smokey, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.

What I watched on TV…

While somewhat hard to believe, May is already upon us, and there is some excellent telly around. Our TV critic Stephen Miller reveals some of his favourite programs from the last four weeks.

Old Enough (Netflix)

This Japanese reality show follows children as young as two while attempting to complete everyday tasks alone without the help of their parents. Old Enough was released in Japan in 1990 as My First Errand and has proven to be a hugely popular show. You could be forgiven for having safety concerns for the toddlers, but much preparation goes into inspecting the routes, and a hidden safety team follow their every move. Episode one sees two-yearold Hiroki travel a kilometre each way to buy flowers, sweet curry and fish cakes for his mum. Then, waving her goodbye, he sets off for the market, where 25 minutes later, he arrives to complete his task.

★★★★

DNA (SBS OnDemand)

Excited to watch this Danish crime thriller as it starred Charlotte Rampling playing a chic, older French investigator. This is an excellent solid Nordic noir crime thriller where good and evil play the long game of cat and mouse. Once a respected detective on the Copenhagen police force, Rolf Larsen has his life brutally upended when his baby daughter goes missing in a tragic accident. Five years after the tragedy, a new lead emerges when a serious flaw is uncovered in the Danish police’s national DNA database, and he believes his daughter could still be alive.

★★★★

Why you should watch: After an unlikely beginning, it does get quite gripping.

Pachinko (Apple TV+)

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – a New York Times Bestseller – is one of Mrs M’s favourite books. This sweeping TV melodrama from Apple beautifully captures the history and enduring bonds of family over its eight immaculate episodes. Profoundly moving, it’s a tale about a matriarch’s perseverance to maintain her national identity and colonialism’s devastating, long-lasting effects.

★★★★★

Why you should watch: One of the best tv series of recent years.

The Dropout (Disney+)

The Dropout follows the rise and fall from grace of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of tech company Theranos. Amanda Seyfried’s portrayal of Elizabeth nails the problematic role of a relatively shallow but multifaceted sociopath. The storyline is pretty accurate for a mini-series and is based on the excellent podcast by Rebecca Jarvis and ABC Audio of the same name. Money, romance, tragedy, and deception make for a highly watchable show as we follow one lie after another. Spoiler alert… Elizabeth’s pyramid of lies eventually comes crashing down, reducing her personal net worth of $4.5 billion to virtually nothing.

★★★★

Why you should watch: This series makes for a terrific binge watch.

UFO (Paramount+)

This four-part docu-series explores our fascination with UFOs and what motive government and the military may have in hiding the truth from us. Not to be confused with the usual “…Ancient Alien theorists say yes.” twaddle, this is a grown-up examination of the subject. It begins with the bombshell the Pentagon has been tracking UFOs for years and examines the history of this phenomenon from both cultural and political perspectives. Then, it asks why do we believe what we believe? And what is the elusive truth beyond this decades-long mystery?

★★★★

Why you should watch: One of the best documentary series, I’ve watched on the topic.

Russian Doll (Netflix)

If you haven’t binged Netflix’s Russian Doll yet, you should. Trapped in a surreal Groundhog Day homage time loop, Nadia keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party. She begins to question her own sanity as she strives to understand the mystery of her situation. Russian Doll is clever, intriguing, and amusing. Later episodes become more profound and darker, with several vital details left to our imagination by the powerful ending. Series 2 is on now.

★★★★

Why you should watch: The acting is excellent, the humour is terrific, and the mystery is engrossing.

Why you should watch: It’s fun!

What I watched on TV…

So what entertained our TV man Stephen Miller last month? Well, too many shows to mention, he says. But here are some of his picks.

This Is Going To Hurt (Binge and Foxtel)

Ben Whishaw’s lively performance of an exhausted doctor is the powerhouse that keeps this must-see series racing along. It’s not easy to pull off making you laugh aloud, then profoundly sad. I have family members who work in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), so I know this is a realistic exploration of the strain the front line staff work under to keep the NHS afloat. This is a brilliant, highly entertaining drama indeed.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: Hands down the best series I’ve seen this year.

Why you wouldn’t: You’d be mad not to.

Dopesick (Disney+)

Dopesick examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The docu-drama is based on journalist Beth Macy’s book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company That Addicted America. It follows actual events over 20 years and how one company – Purdue Pharma – not only caused an opioid crisis but was responsible for drugging so many Americans.

★★★★½

Why you should watch it: This first-rate series is equally addictive as OxyContin.

Why you wouldn’t: Such greed and corruption may make you sick.

Minx (Stan)

Minx is a comedy about an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a B-grade porn publisher to create the first erotic magazine for women. It makes a statement right from the get-go, with its funky, groovy period costumes and satirical sleaze of the time. It doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a sugar-coated fantasy version of 1970s Los Angeles – which is much to its credit. Nevertheless, it’s engaging, colourful and fun, and I think you’ll enjoy Minx for more than its articles.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: It’s an excellent new series with real potential. Why you wouldn’t: You are offended by male full-frontal nudity.

Line In The Sand (Paramount+)

Based on a true story, Line In The Sand, while a drama, offers a fascinating insight into how Israeli criminals have increasingly begun to take over entire cities by threatening and intimidating municipal governments. When a detective with a quest for justice is transferred from Tel Aviv to the seaside town of Naharia, he’s faced with such an endemic culture of corruption and terror he’s somewhat alarmed. The storyline of how he goes about changing things is a storyline you’ll quickly become invested in.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: This Israeli rating winner is a compelling and solid crime drama.

Why you wouldn’t: The language is Hebrew, so be prepared for subtitles.

The Girl Before (Netflix)

Having read JP Delaney’s book of the same name, I was keen to watch this chilly, sophisticated, psychological thriller. However, while acknowledging solid performances from Jessica Plummer and others, some prominent critics thought the show didn’t really stick the landing. I’m not sure I agree, and I enjoyed this binge-worthy series, including the powerful twist off the bars at the end.

★★★½

Why you should watch it: It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Why you wouldn’t: You’re not a fan of the slow burn.

Wisting (SBS OnDemand)

Regular readers of this column will know I do like an excellent Scandi-noir crime drama. Norwegian detective William Wisting is empathetic, diligent and determined, and the only thing that seems to escape him as he hunts down Norway’s murderous crims is a happy family life. Maybe this is not up there with efforts from the Swedes and Danes, but I still found it an enjoyable watch. Just don’t expect it to be as good as Broen (The Bridge).

★★★★

Why you should watch it: The production values are good, and the musical score was excellent. Why you wouldn’t: It probably needed to be darker to be a proper Scandi noir

What I watched on TV…

As we ‘March’ ardently into 2022, it’s time to find out what’s been entertaining resident TV man Stephen Miller over the last month.

Palm Springs (Amazon Prime)

What begins as a goofy rehash of the ‘Groundhog Day’ narrative soon morphs into something a great deal more. It quickly settles into a highly watchable romance of unexpected poignancy. Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests become romantically involved while living the same day over and over again. Sounds repetitive –which it is – but don’t imagine that that means boring. On the contrary, with a brilliant screenplay and excellent cast, it’s a movie that provides plenty of laughs and genuine heart and soul. ★★★★½

Why you would watch it: It’s quirky and funny. I’d be happy to watch it again.

Why you wouldn’t: You don’t like flight-of-fancy romantic comedies.

Gilded Age (Paramount+)

From the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, comes Gilded Age, a period drama set in 1880s America. This was a time of immense economic change with many conflicts between the new way of thinking and the old traditional way. A handful of industrialists (new money) caused a palpable shift in the social order with the establishment (old money). It’s perfectly watchable, and you don’t have to think too hard. Fellowes’s soap opera clarity makes sure of that.

★★★

Why you would watch it: You’re a fan of Downton Abbey or simply want something light where no one dies. Why you wouldn’t: Cardboard characters, out-of-the-box costumes and obvious movie-set streets.

Yellowjackets (Paramount+)

A talented high school girl’s soccer team are stranded in the American wilderness in 1996 when their plane crashes on the way to a national tournament. Through a dual timeline structure, we meet two versions of the main characters, the teens forced to survive the dark days following the crash (think Lord Of The Flies) and their adult self 26 years on. There’s a lot to Yellowjackets; intrigue, excellent writing, tremendous performances and cool 90s music, which all come together to keep you wanting more.

★★★★

Why you would watch it: This is unsettling, but highly addictive mustsee-TV.

Why you wouldn’t: You may find it slow and sometimes far-fetched. Why no immediate rescue?

Why Women Kill Series 2 (SBS OnDemand or Paramount+)

A frumpy 1940s American housewife who becomes a society diva does seem a reasonably simple plotline compared to series 1’s three simultaneous stories (reviewed last month). But Allison Tolman’s portrayal of Alma is so ‘blooming’ marvellous, complexity and depth of story are still maintained. Add in some great acting, clever writing (“Violence doesn’t bother me… keep that in mind when you tip me.”), beautiful, almost cartoonish cinematography and many fun twists, and you’ll find yourself utterly addicted in no time. Roll on season 3.

★★★★½

Why you would watch it: Anything with Allison Tolman in is worth a shot – she’s incredible.

Why you wouldn’t: You’re not a fan of this soapy style of drama.

The Rescue (Disney+)

This against-all-odds daring rescue in 2018 of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand quite literally brought the world together. Using never-beforeseen material and exclusive interviews, the directors will keep you on the edge of your seat as they bring alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times. As the world worked tirelessly for one common good – I couldn’t help but feel very uplifted. If only mankind could operate like this all the time.

★★★★★

Why you should watch it: It’s the most incredible and inspirational story ever captured in a documentary.

Why you wouldn’t: There really is no reason other than you don’t have Disney+.

Muster Dogs (ABC iView)

Joe Spicer is a champion breeder of kelpies, and his working dogs are in much demand all over Australia. So many farmers are putting away their quad bikes and helicopters and returning to the much more environmental and practical ‘muster dogs’ of old. Joe matched a puppy to five top trainers around the country who then vied for a year to see who could best harness their dog’s natural instinct and intelligence the best. Spoiler alert, all dogs do pretty well, but certainly, there is enough of a difference for you to choose your favourite pup and barrack for them over the four episodes. This was an exciting way to raise awareness of these fantastic animals and what they can do.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Wonderful family viewing. Why you wouldn’t: You don’t like dogs

What I watched on TV…

As we move into February, there are many great programs around, says resident TV man Stephen Miller. Here are a few of his recommendations.

Landscapers (Stan)

The writing and cinematography of this true-crime dramatisation are fresh, engaging and tell this compelling story in such a way that it makes you reevaluate what a victim and a perpetrator are supposed to look like. Olivia Coleman or David Thewlis are absolute delights, and their mesmerising performances bring these unremarkable characters to life.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: Most viewers (as did I) felt this was an inventive, surreal, theatrically compelling drama…

Why you wouldn’t: …while some people found it depressing, drab and a little overlong.

The Tourist (Stan) UK viewers smashed the BBC iPlayer’s streaming records when millions tuned in to binge-watch this excellent crime drama series over the Christmas holidays. Jamie Dornan (50 Shades trilogy) plays a man who has absolutely no idea of who he is after waking up from a car crash in the Australian outback. After discovering there are some pretty nasty bad guys pursuing him from his past though, he needs to try and piece his memory back together, work out who he was, who he is now, and do so fast!

★★★★★

Why you would watch it: It’s a grippingly watchable thriller. Why you wouldn’t: You have a low tolerance of implausible scenarios.

After Life Series 3 (Netflix)

Last month saw the release of the third and final season of this dark comedy about grief and community created, written, directed, acted and produced by Ricky Gervais. I was really looking forward to this; however, loss and depression are tricky subjects to continually extract humour. So while there is something still fundamentally enjoyable about this final season, it occasionally seems a tad bland and sometimes drifts into clichéd and repeated dialogue.

★★★½

Why you would watch it: It’s a nice black comedy-drama about life, grief and human frailty.

Why you wouldn’t: You’re not a fan of the often foul-mouthed humour of Ricky Gervais.

Love Me (Binge)

I really enjoyed this six-part drama and in fact binge-watched it over a weekend. There’s a lot of negativity in the world, and this is the beautiful escapism we all need. It explores modern love experienced by three family members at different stages in their lives. This homegrown Binge original excels in all departments, script, casting, acting and direction. It exudes global quality and could develop into a series that lasts a few seasons. It is highly relatable, touching on feelings most of us would have felt at some time in our lives with wit and honesty.

★★★★★

Why you would watch it: It’s about love, not murder. Hugo Weaving and Bojana Novakovic are both excellent. Why you wouldn’t: You don’t subscribe to Binge.

Why Women Kill Series 1 (SBS OnDemand)

I watched series one after seeing the trailer for the release of series two. If you haven’t seen this show yet, it’s an exciting concept, three different households, three different decades –50s, 80s and present-day – but all set in the same house. It explores the role of women in American society of that time and the way their men might attempt to screw them over. Inevitably this leads to (without giving too much away) a few some reasons why women might well want to kill men. It’s a light, superficial, but highly compelling, dark, comedic drama.

★★★★

Why you would watch it: It’s enjoyable telly. It’s fun and suitable for all. Why you wouldn’t: You prefer your TV less soapy and more unwashed.

Framed (SBS OnDemand)

Back in 1986, Australia’s most expensive painting, Picasso’s The Weeping Woman, vanished from the wall of the National Gallery of Victoria. Incredibly, this crime has still never been solved; even more astounding was that no one even noticed it was missing for two days. How then could this uninsured, controversial, $2 million vision in acid green simply disappear?

The only clues police had to go on were a bizarre series of ransom notes and a number of rumours. This true-crime story is an absorbing insight and attempts to piece together all the evidence. Despite remaining unsolved, the program does hint at several compelling theories.

★★★★

Why you should watch it: It’s a fascinating look at an art heist like no other.

Why you wouldn’t: You don’t like investigative historical documentaries.

Celebrating the food of Ukraine

Ukrainian cooking is perfect for this time of year. With ANZAC and our thoughts for the military, soldiers, veterans and all those in countries with conflict past, present, we commemorate.

Researching the recipes, Ukraine is a cool climate with an average summer temperature of 20 degrees. Potatoes, mushrooms, berries and stone fruit feature frequently along with dumplings, pork, crepes, butter and onions.

Try this Haluski recipe for dumplings, on a cool winter night, or take camping, perfect to serve next to the campfire.

Halushki

INGREDIENTS

• 5 cups flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 4 eggs

• 1 cup lukewarm water

• 150 grams butter

FOR THE TOPPING

• 100 grams of butter

• 500 grams fresh sliced mushrooms

• 1 finely chopping onion

• 300 gram chopped bacon

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

• 1 bunch of chopped parsley

METHOD

In a large bowl, add the flour, salt and create a small well in the center of it. Add eggs, water, and melted butter into the well. Use a fork to incorporate the wet ingredients into the flour to create the dough until you get a smooth texture.

On a floured surface, separate the dough into eight pieces. Roll each piece into a long snake shape, and dice it into small pieces. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the raw dumplings into the water, cooking until they float to the top. Allow the dumplings to float before removing them. Once the dumplings float to the top of the boiling water, they are fully cooked. If you remove them before they rise to the top, they will be gummy and undercooked. Scoop out onto a tray to dry out a little while the topping is made.

In a large heavy pan, add the butter & onions into the pan and cook until translucent. Add the bacon and cook with browned & crisp. Include the mushrooms until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Tip into a bowl & keep warm.

Reuse the same pan to pan fry the dumplings. add the boiled dumplings. Pan-fry the dumplings until they turn golden brown.

Serve halushki alongside a light side salad or veggie dish for lunch or dinner. Just like pasta or gnocchi, these dumplings are carb-heavy and filling all on their own. Pairing the dumplings with a classic garden salad, marinated tomatoes, or homemade caesar will make for a nice, wellrounded meal.

• Store leftover halushki in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for up to 3 days.Reheat them in a skillet with a little butter or in the microwave.

• You can freeze halushki by placing the raw dumplings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pop the entire baking sheet in the freezer. Once completely frozen, transfer the dumplings to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Frozen halushki should be kept for up to 3 months.

SWEET PANCAKES

Also try thin pancakes, filled with sweetened creamed cottage cheese & berry jam, or stewed apples & rhubarb. Lovely for dessert, also for a special breakfast.

cook

March, Hike, Stroll, Wander

It’s great weather to get out and about, around trees and hills. This calls for snacks! We need compact, delicious, chewy & satisfying nutrition.

I love this recipe from a cyclist friend, Handy to grab and snack for belly fuel. Great for heart & brain health with nut oils and fibre as well.

Ready for Easter and Autumn outdoor adventuring, keep this recipe on file for winter camping and skiing trips. It’s egg-free, and the butter can be substituted equal quantity for coconut oil for a vegan recipe.

**Use gluten-free oats for a gluten-free version.

SLICE INGREDIENTS

1 cup Sesame seeds 1 cup Slivered Almonds

1 cup Chopped Pecans 4 cups Rolled oats

1 cup Pine nuts 1 cup Pumpkin seeds

1 cup brown sugar 1 cup Currants

1 cup Cranberries 1 cup Diced Apricots

1 cup Diced Dried Figs Favorite Jam 500g jar

½ cup Honey 250g Butter

1 whole vanilla bean - scrape the seeds out 4 tablespoons Cinnamon

METHOD

• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees fan force..

• Combine dry ingredients in a big bowl.

• Melt butter in a saucepan or microwave on till melted then add honey, jam, vanilla seeds and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly then remove from heat.

• Combine wet ingredients with processed dried ingredients. Place mixtures in a baking paper-lined baking tin.

• Lay another piece of baking paper down over the top and roll over to level out & compress the mixture. Get your oven timer or phone out and put an alarm on for cooking - this is vital.

• Bake it for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. After cooling, but warm enough to handle, slide out onto a chopping board, and slice through with a large knife into small 1 inch by 2-inch pieces. Store in an airtight container in the fridge layered with greaseproof paper. Lasts 2 weeks in the fridge. To freeze, wrap pieces individually in greaseproof, and store in an airtight container.

**Some oats are not gluten-free due to processing and manufacturing.

*Stay close to the oven, because if this burns, it’s a very expensive piece of coal. *Every oven is different, so keep close and check every 5 minutes after about 15 minutes.

POMEGRANATE PICKLED ONIONS

This quick pickled onion recipe is ready in 10 minutes, and, keeps for over a month. Sweet & perky, no cooking needed! Keeps in the fridge, for up to a month.

• Peel and slice 6 red onions - along the ribs, from base to tip (as opposed to rounds). add to a medium-sized bowl, cover with cold water and gently break apart with your hands. Once all the slices are separated, drain well and pat dry, returning to the bowl.

• Pour over 500ml of pomegranate molasses, add 2 teaspoons of sea salt, 1 teaspoon of sumac, 1/2 a teaspoon of chili flakes, and the zest & juice from 2 limes.

• Have a large glass jar (about 1 litre) cleaned and ready with a matching lid.

• Pour the well-mixed onions & syrup into the jar and chill. Perfect mixed into a salad, sprinkled over a pizza, baked into a cheese tart, a small bowl to join with lamb curry. Lovely layered with ripe tomatoes as a salad, and my favourite, onto a fresh bread roll with goats cheese & rocket.

Pissaladière

July 14 is Bastille Day and I love to celebrate any occasion with food. My last overseas trip was to France and we enjoyed the traditional French fare: baguettes, fresh berries and cheeses at local markets and also the freshly baked Pissaladière that is almost pizza, but contains more bread. délicieuse!

Pissaladière has an easy dough base smothered in caramelised onions, olives, anchovies and thyme. Pissaladière wouldn’t be Pissaladière without onions that are cooked in the old-fashioned way. Cheating with a store-bought sugar laden product just won’t cut it. Best thing to do is use your time wisely and make a big batch that can be used on the Pissaladière, and as a condiment that will go with so many meals and last a good couple of weeks. For this recipe, take 12 brown onions, peel and thinly slice - from root to tip - not across the rings (Ed –nice tip, Bern!).

Throw into a large heavy based pot with 150 mls of olive oil. Stir briefly and pop on the lid, letting the onions start to heat through. The steam will help the onions break down and prevent them accidentally burning too early. The onions need to become tender before they start to brown.

Five minutes should be plenty of time, then lift the lid, and start the stirring process. Add a sprig of thyme and stir every few minutes, just as it’s starting to catch on the base. You want this browning to happen, that's the flavour. This stage takes about 15- 20 minutes. So, stay close (maybe clean out the utensil cupboard or reorganise the pantry), but stay close!

Once the base of the pot has onions sticking to it, add a splash of water to help loosen the caramelisation - a couple of times over five minutes should be plenty. When your onions are a dark golden brown, turn the heat off, put the lid back on, and leave it for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, lift the lid, and you should be able to stir the onions, with the browned base mixing in with the onions. Season with a teaspoon of sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper, cool, and use to top your Pissaladière.

Pissaladière Bread Base

150 gm plain flour (1 cup) 60 gm butter, coarsely chopped 14 gm dried yeast (2 sachet) 1 egg, lightly whisked

Topping

1 cup of caramelised onions 2-3 sprigs of thyme leaves

12 anchovy fillets or roasted capsicum 16 black pitted olives

For bread dough: combine flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub butter into flour until fine crumbs form, then make a well in the centre. Combine yeast with 2 tbsp lukewarm water, stir to dissolve and add to well along with egg.

Combine dry mixture with yeast mixture to form a dough, then knead until smooth and coming away from the sides of the bowl (add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky). Cover with a damp tea towel and stand in a warm place until doubled in size (45-60 minutes).

Preheat the oven to 200C. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, knock back, then knead into a ball. Lightly flour dough, roll out to a 28cm-diameter circle and place on a lightly greased oven tray. Spread over onion mixture, arrange anchovies (or capsicum if using) on top in a criss-cross pattern and place an olive in the centre of each diamond. Stand in a warm place and prove until slightly risen (10-15 minutes), then bake until golden (20-25 minutes).

bon appetit