Thursday 11 April 2024: 10am - 12.30pm
The much anticipated Golden Girls Fashion Parade returns with its autumn winter collection.
Join us as we take the stress out of clothes shopping. Relax, enjoy the fun, latest fashion, and update your winter wardrobe with stylish pieces and accessories. All purchased pieces can be taken home on the day. It’s time to shop up a storm.
DETAILS:
• 10am - 12.30pm. Cost: $20
• Sydney Community Services, Lane Cove Community Hub, The Terrace Room, 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove
• Three hours free parking available
• Limited local transport available.
Bookings essential, please contact:
Sydney Community Services
Phone: 9427 6425
Email: support@sydneycs.org
Monday - Friday, 8.30am to 4pm
www.sydneycs.org
Scan here to contact us
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 people 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, 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:
1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove NSW 2066.
PUBLISHER: Branka Ivkovic
P: 02 9427 6425 E: BIvkovic@sydneycs.org
EDITOR: Nicola Riches
P: 0405 661 570
E: editor@thevillageobserver.com.au
DESIGN + ADVERTISING: Sharon Curby
P: 0450 370 575
E: design@thevillageobserver.com.au
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E: advertising@thevillageobserver.com.au
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The Village Observer is published monthly (except January) by Sydney Community Services (trading as Lane Cove Community Aid Foundation) • Distribution occurs 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.
CONTACT US:
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Thank you... 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:
Dear Readers,
We have a couple of mistakes to own up to. Firstly, a couple of bundles of last month’s magazines carried some printing errors. We did a thorough check, and we don’t think there were too many distributed, however, we had some really special content running in the last issue that was mistakenly removed, so we have reprinted it this month. For those of you who have seen it already, know that it’s not your eyes deceiving you!
Also, some of you noticed that the February issue (our first for 2024) had last December’s date on it. Some of you were convinced that February’s had not come out at all. Rest assured, it had, but when we were putting the magazine together we were struggling slightly to come out of our summer slumber. Who can blame us?
Anyhow – we’re back now and we’re right back on it.
March highlights include Clean Up Australia Day and Seniors Festival. They both provide fantastic ways for you to connect with your community. Find out more inside.
We couldn’t go past the news about the changes to planning laws and how NSW Government intends to overhaul rezoning for higher density/affordable housing. It’s a hot potato, and not an issue we will wade into deeply, but inside is a simple guide to what’s happening.
Elsewhere, we have our regulars. Our columnist Liz has a book out, don’t you know? Dr Wong is back in his rooms, TV Steve is back on the sofa (he does walk around sometimes too), Book Reviewer Anna is head down, reading everything so you don’t have to, and we’re here, waiting for your stories as always.
Keep them coming readers!
Nicola
NICOLA RICHES EDITOR editor@thevillageobserver.com.au
NSW Seniors Festival celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to our local communities. It's the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, with over 500,000 people attending each year. The NSW Seniors Festival will run this month from Monday 11 to Sunday 24. The theme of the festival is ‘Reach Beyond.’ Sydney Community Services has a lot in store for this year’s event and you can learn more about that on pages 40 to 43.
In Sydney, there are a wealth of events culminating in the Premier’s Gala Concerts from Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 March with Damien Leith and Darren Coggan. Tickets are selling fast, but you can register to watch it online. As with previous years, the NSW Seniors Festival Expo will cover everything from travel and lifestyle, to home, health and more. The Expo is on 13 and 14 March and will be held at the Sydney International Convention Centre (ICC) in Hall 4. More information about Seniors Festival can be found here: www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival
GLADESVILLE RESERVE
• 9.00am - 11.00am
• Meeting Point: Huntleys Point Road carpark opposite Riverside Girls High
RIVERGLADE RESERVE
• 9.00am onwards
• Meeting Point: Tarban Creek footbridge, Joly Parade
TAMBOURINE BAY PARK, TAMBOURINE BAY ROAD, RIVERVIEW TO WARRAROON RESERVE
• 9.30am to 11.30am
• Meeting point: Tambourine Bay Park Councils will provide gloves and rubbish bags. All you need to bring is a hat, water, suitable clothing and closed in footwear, no thongs or sandals.
The new Boronia Park multi-purpose courts are now open to the public. Sporting groups, schools and community members will be able to use the courts for their competitions, friendly matches and social use.
Hunter’s Hill Mayor Zac Miles said the courts cater for basketball, pickleball and netball games, making the sports centre a significant community asset.
“This will be transformative for our premier sporting precinct at Boronia Park. With participation numbers in our local sporting groups growing in the past couple of years, it’s great to see these shared facilities going live for all to use,” Clr Miles said.
The two upgraded courts, which replaced the old netball courts, have line markings to accommodate netball and pickleball. The height of the netball hoops can be adjusted to cater to all ages and abilities. A third new multipurpose court also has line markings for basketball with a rotating hoop for the different sporting codes. Council is also looking forward to opening a new community facility on-site. Follow Council’s website to be updated with an opening date soon.
Lane Cove Women’s Action and Information Group (WAIG) meet on Mondays in the Lane Cove Library during school terms from 10.30am-12.30pm. They are a lively group of mainly retired women who are committed to achieving social justice for women. Some of their upcoming sessions include:
• MARCH 4: Dr Celine van Golde on the reliability of eye witness memory in children and adults.
• MARCH 11:
Gabrielle Droulers, Board member of Success Works Partners Pty Ltd on breaking down barriers to employment for women affected by the criminal justice system.
• MARCH 18:
Penny Beran on Australian artist Joy Ewart who was instrumental in developing the Willoughby Arts Centre in the 1960s.
• MARCH 25:
Joyce Allen on the life of Violet McKenzie, Australia’s first woman electrical engineer.
All women are welcome to attend the meetings. Members $10, non-members $12.
You have been the TVO columnist for over seven years and now you have your debut novel out. How long have you been a writer, and was it always your ambition to be one?
I wrote my first Life’s Rich Pattern in October 2016, and that was pretty much the moment I knew I wanted to be a writer. I’ve always enjoyed writing and creating light moments using words – I was a big letter writer throughout university in the UK and when I first moved here. LRP was something I pitched to the former editor, thinking that the good citizens of Lane Cove and beyond might appreciate a light lifestyle column with a local focus, and it took on a life of its own. It was the genuine early seed sower for writing a novel in the same vein, lighthearted and page turning whilst being something people can resonate with.
Has your career always involved writing?
My working life has centred on strategic marketing, and later, copywriting and PR. It was all business focussed but you have to make every word count. And my other job today is as General Manager Communications at a nursing home in Ashfield. Crafting messages and emails to families during the pandemic took some real effort, managing people’s anxieties and reassuring them at the same time. I also write and edit the magazine where I interview a resident and staff member every month – their stories are always wonderful, rich, and humbling.
What was the inspiration for your book?
I followed the tale of Melissa Caddick’s fraudulent Ponzi Scheme business during lockdown, and thought – well, it’s one thing to rip off a faceless corporate, and another to rob your family and friends blind. How would you feel if you found out your own partner had done it? Which is where the idea for Libby, the protagonist in The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices, was born. Would you stand by your partner or run a mile?
Did the book writing process come easy to you?
Look, writing a whole load of drivel comes easy, but forming it into cohesive sentences and a fully formed and functioning manuscript is less so. Luckily, I did heaps of short courses at the Australian Writers Centre, from creative writing to novel writing and more. I met some wonderful people and learned invaluable lessons which I still use every day.
Tell us about a bit about your personal life - we know you were born in the UK...how did you end up in Australia? Did you settle in okay?
I came backpacking after university with two girlfriends in September 1991 and stopped over in Sydney, where I caught up with an Aussie guy I’d met on holiday in the Greek Islands the year before. I’m somehow still here, married to him, having raised two daughters. I wasn’t really conscious of settling in because the backpacking thing just sort of stretched out, so it was never an actual decision to emigrate. I love it here, but I did (and still do) miss my old friends and family. Sydneysiders all seems to hang out in their school and uni groups for years!
More specifically, how did you land in Lane Cove and why this particular Sydney suburb?
We had two babies and were living in a flat in Bondi. We both loved Lane Cove (I worked for Nestlé in the now defunct Lifesavers factory in Lane Cove West) and decided it was the place we were going to raise our family. After weeks of property searching (and missing out) we managed to secure a tiny two-bedroom original red brick deceased estate in Lane Cove North. We’re
still there today. The house has undergone several renovations through the years which have all been fabulous, but I’m often nostalgic for those early days in the tiny house with the lean-to and external laundry, and kids’ paddling pool in the grassy backyard.
What is about LC that keeps you here?
Our hood is so neighbourly, everyone’s children have been to or still go to Mowbray Public just behind our street and many go on to local high schools. We have a street party every year and a Facebook app (for essentials like, does anyone have a spare green bin??) Our neighbours have truly become our friends and they are relationships to be treasured.
If you were hosting some guests who had never been here before, where would you send them?
Of course, to Manly on the ferry, and then do the Spit Bridge to Manly walk and/or kayak. The Eastern suburbs beaches are great too, the harbour beaches like Nielsen Park and Watsons Bay. You can’t go past Newtown for wholly cool vibes and atmosphere. And a walk through The Rocks followed by drinks in the Shangri-La cocktail bar is a must.
Imagine a perfect day - what would it look like for you?
A day with no plans. Get up when I wake up, have a lazy breakfast. Get a coffee from my local barista and walk my
pooch Sid in Blackman Park. Do some writing, either editing or something new, like my newsletter which is always fun to do. Have dinner out with the family – definitely a perfect day does not involve cooking!
Where can we buy your book, and will you be doing any readings or a Q&A?
The team at Burns Bay Bookery in Lane Cove has been wonderfully supportive of me as a debut author and has plentiful stock of my book. Otherwise, if you’re further afield it’s ranged in all good bookstores and mass merchants. I’m doing a Q&A with crime writer B.M. Carroll at Lane Cove library on February 20, 6.15pm – 7.30pm and The Bookery will be there selling copies on the day.
Hope to see you there!
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ in-conversation-with-lizfoster-and-ber-carrolltickets-775391275177?aff=e bdsoporgprofile
Emma Grimes, Michael Fitzgerald & Peter Louridas
The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices is out now with Affirm Press, available in all major book retailers, online and audio.*
*end Jan
A family business, now in our 48th year in Lane Cove
We probably all have our own ideas about writers’ tropes. You know, the classic writer hunched over his or her (always manual) typewriter for hours at a time, tearing out hanks of manuscript from the carriage, surrounded by scrunched up bits of paper.
The Colin Firth character in Love Actually is a writer who retreats to France to nurse a broken heart and churn out pages of his new crime novel, all on paper. The novelist Lawrence Durrell (brother of Gerald) is portrayed in The Durrells bashing out pages of courier typing, perched atop a coastal sand dune, ostensibly supervising the junior Gerry. As a writer I marvel at these scenes, because anyone who’s attempted to write a novel will tell you that it takes at least eight complete redrafts to get a manuscript ready (that’s ready to pitch or submit to your publisher, not ready to print – that’s a whole other ballgame). How did writers using longhand or typewriters do this? Did they redraft back in the day? Or did their editors? How did the editing actually work when there was only one original copy – did the editor retype everything, or just apply red pen and send it on its way to the printers? So many questions.
I started writing my first book back in 2017 and spent years toiling over it while having heaps of fun. The main part of the learning curve wasn’t about ideas, but everything else that turns good writing into a great novel. It’s not enough to have a clever plot or interesting characters. The whole box and dice need to be cohesive in the way that all novels are in thousands of small and large moments which readers don’t notice. The story arc (trajectory of the narrative) is different to the character arc. Every character needs to have conflict, which is not stand-up fisticuffs, but either internal or external turmoil - what the story’s about, the reason readers want to keep reading to find out what happens. The structure needs to be arranged to maximise page turning tension.
Charles Dickens authored some excellent stories which still stand up, but if he submitted one of his manuscripts today an editor would cut at least half of it out. Modern readers are heavily influenced by television ‘jump-cuts’ – those dramatic scene endings which yank you straight to a different time and place. If Dickens wasn’t considered classic, he’d be struggling to hold the attention of the time poor Millennials and beyond. The highest performing videos on social media platform TikTok are watched for mere seconds. Our attention spans, along with our patience tolerance for slow internet, have been whittled down to the pencil nub.
When you’re starting out as a writer it’s ridiculously hard because the first people who give feedback are invariably
ILLUSTRATION BY GRACE KOPSIAFTIS
family or close friends. If they’re critical it’s all too easy to slump into a decline and give up. If they’re complimentary – well, they have to say nice things, they’re family! I had no clue if my work had legs. After two years of pitching to publishers and getting nowhere I was stuck. What to do?
All the advice seemed to be to ‘just write another book.’ Like that’s easy (what’s wrong with this one???) But then Covid hit, and I thought, well what better time to do it if not now. I became obsessed with true crime podcasts while everyone else took to home baking and craft projects, and the Melissa Caddick Ponzi scheme fraud that captivated the nation. Which is where the inspiration for my debut novel published this month, The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices, began.
So, I wrote another book (see above). But this time I was better at it. I understood structure, and scenes, and character arcs, and dramatic tension, and much more. I got that the story could have funny moments and an interesting setting and intriguing characters but that the whole thing needed to coalesce for a true novel to be born. And I can see now that my first novel just wasn’t good enough.
As a young person I lived in the world of books and stories, relishing the place that they can take you in good times and bad. A friend emailed me shortly after my book’s release and thanked me, saying it was delightful and the first book in over a decade she’s been able to read in a day. I just love that. My book might not be for everyone, but if it puts a smile on people’s faces and gives them joy, especially during dark times, then I can truly die happy.
Liz Foster is a local writer. Her debut fiction novel, The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices, is out in January 2024 with Affirm Press.
You can reach her by scanning this QR code to subscribe to her monthly light bites and lifestyle newsletter, or emailing liz@lizfoster.com.au.
Our resident book review Anna Loder shares her thoughts on our columnist Liz Foster’s debut novel
I was lucky enough to be given an early copy of The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices. I laughed, I cried, I rejoiced and loved with Libby. I loved it so much and I know you will too. It’s a complete romp; so much fun. Sweet, wonderful and I completely have not read anything like it before.
With this novel Liz Foster has allowed me to think about choices and consequences, but in such a fun relatable and breezy way.
I loved this debut. Apparently the idea for the novel came from wondering about Melissa Caddick; her friends and family. How does that level of fraud and misappropriation impact on the family of the perpetrator? It was something so interesting to think about, and I loved my time doing so in Bondi and a rustic rural goat farm…
This is a such a sweet novel. There was so much to get interested in and it will completely get you reaching for the
The Golden Girls Fashion Parade celebrates 20 years of Lane Cove’s runway event with an April show
For the past 20 years, Julie Parry has supported Sydney Community Services (SCS) with her Golden Girls Fashion Parades.
Golden Girls was born in 2003 to fill a gap that has always existed in the fashion sector, namely the creation of clothes for older women.
Julie explained that she noticed ladies were always interested in the latest trends, but found them inappropriate or unwearable and were hesitant to try on clothes in-store.
“I thought it would be great to have a fashion parade where ladies could come along, have a cuppa and find out about the latest styles, and then try on clothes while surrounded by women of similar ages and sizes,” says Julie.
Golden Girls Fashion Parades are professionally run, extremely entertaining and fun.
Women from all over Sydney find them to be the perfect accompaniment to fundraising or social events, where you will see a collection of smart, casual lifestyle ladies clothing, featuring stylish, comfortable pieces in sizes 8-24.
The Golden Girls Fashion Parades hosts its events for community groups, retirement villages, charity and church groups.
“Solving wardrobe dilemmas, providing personalised styling advice when needed and helping women look good and feel great is all part of the fashion experience we provide,” explains Julie.
goat cheese at Woolies. There is so much going on and to love. It does come complete with a host of supporting characters - some including a goat named Kim Kardashian and a parrot by the name of Miss Marple.
Libby was just a gorgeously good woman, the story as delightful as it could be when you know from the outset her husband does jail time for fraud. It would make a great New Year read because we are right beside Libby as she faces and does start ‘her life all over again when everything goes south of the border’…it has all the new year resolution feels without having to follow the rules as laid out in the book Atomic Habits!
It got me thinking about what I want to bring to 2024, what I want my life to have more of in 2024, things I want to stop sleepwalking through…this was a fabulous novel and I think completely the perfect novel for now.
“Supporting our Aussie manufacturers is also of huge importance to us, and the creation of our own exclusive Golden Girls Fashion label is very exciting,” she adds.
Golden Girls works closely with many charities. Julie said one of their proudest recent achievements was being recognised and awarded a certificate by the Australian Red Cross for consistent fundraising efforts and fantastic commitment for over 20 years.
Julie has helped SCS raise over $7,000. The organisation and its supporters look forward to the fashion parades each year and greatly appreciate Julie’s support.
The next SCS Fashion Parade will be held on Thursday 11 April from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Staff from SCS, volunteers, and sometimes ladies in the audience, model the clothes. Clear out your wardrobes as we look forward to a shopping extravaganza!
www.goldengirl.au
Cruising the Kimberley is a dream for many. Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre invites you to turn that dream into reality and snap up exceptional pricing on what is now very limited inventory onboard Silver Cloud, Darwin to Broome 19/29 July.
The destination is iconic. Remote. With magnificent scenery. And let’s not forget ancient, indigenous rock art. The mesmerising tidal patterns. Plus the endless blue sky framing spectacular coastal cliffs. No-one who travels to the Kimberley returns unmoved.
Silversea will take you there in style and Silver Cloud is one of the best. Transformed some years ago to expedition standards, Cloud is nimble enough to explore up close and complemented by a fleet of 20 modern zodiacs crewed by an experienced and knowledgeable team. Silversea attracts the very best exploration team members and through them you’ll discover the best of what there is to see and enjoy in the Kimberley.
All daily excursions (except helicopter excursions) are included and with a maximum 200 guests you won’t be left onboard waiting for your turn to explore.
Back on board, after a fun time exploring, you’ll relish the creature comforts she provides. A pool
just perfect for cooling off. Several restaurants and lounges, many with perfect sunrise and sunset views. Quality included beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Stylish, spacious, comfortable suites with truly cossetting beds. And a butler to see that you want for nothing.
Pricing (correct as at 19 February 2024) starts at $14850 pp twin share and includes 1 night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast at the Darwin Hilton (or similar) and a transfer to the ship.
By joining this departure, you will receive additional benefits – guaranteed cameraderie and newfound friendships with Trendsetter clients already booked and hosting services by me, Adrienne Witteman.
In addition, all Virtuoso guest receive USD200 pp onboard credit. New-toSilversea guests can receive a further $650 discount on their suite when referred by a family member or friend who has sailed with Silversea.
Picture yourself there!
There has never been a better time to purchase your Silversea Kimberley cruise while this cruise is in sale period. However space is limited so don’t delay your decision.
Wow. We’re two months in from New Year celebrations and increasingly I feel as if the year is already half over.
Despite the negative externalities that sadly continue to play out in the Middle East crisis, and Ukraine, travel consumer confidence is higher than pre-Covid and even those who said they’d put away their passport for good are reconsidering. After all, you only live once!
Industry colleagues report similar, and invitations to further my knowledge and learn of new products, for the benefit of clients, arrive daily in my inbox.
In the last three weeks, I’ve inspected and dined onboard two ships (plus turned down two cruise famils each over a few days in March because I can’t fit them in boo hoo), attended a Japan travel market and another with Italian hoteliers, and completed several webinars with a big focus on South America and exploration cruising. And that’s just outside of normal work hours. This is not atypical – most highly committed agents will do similar and speaking personally, it’s what keeps me excited and passionate about my work.
Meanwhile, the thirst for exploration cruises continues unabated, and many of the cruise lines are running special seminars (and offering discounted early bird pricing) which in turn is spiking further interest. Antarctica and
the Arctic are hot, and with reports that polar bears are suffering from shrinking ice floes, Svalbard and Churchill are popular destinations. If this is on your bucket list, I urge you to act now, especially if you are in the market for premium airline seats next summer –Antarctica especially suffers from too few seats on a popular route and the prices do quickly jump $3000 - $5000 for return business class fares.
Discerning which ship will best suit your pocket and your profile is a wellhoned skill and while the razzmatazz around some ships may look very enticing, the plethora of options means you should be consulting a professional. Speaking personally, when I am your agent, I’ll evaluate the best of the offerings and provide credible comparisons from years of accumulated knowledge and experience. I take my role as your independent advisor seriously. At the very least, when you tell me what you are considering I can often score extra benefits such as preferential access to consumer events and onboard credits that you won’t get by going direct to the cruise line.
Trendsetter is cruising to Antarctica in late February 2025. Just as we have a Kimberley cruise onboard Silversea in July 2023*, I am escorting a group to Antarctica onboard the same ship, Silver Cloud, in February 2025. Even better, we’re offering an optional addon to Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls since there’s no point in travelling all that way for just
two weeks. I adore South America with Patagonia and the Atacama Desert being among my all-time travel destinations. My brain is engaged, and I am poised to deliver you the ultimate trip.
Now is not the time to wonder if you should be travelling. There’s a whole world to explore and plenty are moving fast.
*The Kimberley cruise is currently $14850 pp twin share, and Antarctica $13250 pp, at the time of writing (and will possibly be more at time of publication) so anyone interested in joining this cruise is urged to contact me quickly. We saw some great low fares last year and it seems that these won’t be repeated, as the exploration cruises are now so popular.
In a NSW Government consultation paper about changes to planning laws that will affect housing density, the first image pictured was a block of units in Lane Cove, suggesting that this LGA is a poster child for a new way to envision the city of the future. But will the proposed plans make a positive impact and what other measures is the State Government taking?
At the end of November last year, the NSW Government announced changes that will fast-track approvals for a diversity of homes such as residential unit buildings of three to six storeys, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and smaller two storey apartment blocks in suburbs where they are not currently allowed.
The aim is to deliver at least 30 per cent of the number of homes NSW needs to meet its Housing Accord target of 377,000 by 2029.
Just last month, the State Government closed its consultation period, and it is expected that the findings of it will be published soon.
The aim is introduce a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to enact these changes, while simultaneously encouraging councils to add these types of dwellings to their own planning rules, by June this year.
“Diversity of housing allows people to
stay in their communities and neighbourhoods through different stages of their life, with family and friends able to live nearby. More housing choice means more options for everyone – renters, families, empty nesters,” Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said.
“Density done well means townhouses, apartments and terraces clustered near shops, high streets and parks.
“We already have great examples of these types of homes. Sydney has grown using these housing types. Look at homes in Wollstonecraft, Waverton, Erskineville, parts of Wollongong or Newcastle. They’re great places to live, we just need more of them,” he said.
Diversity of housing allows people to stay in their communities and neighbourhoods
In the Government’s Explanation of Intended Effect document that maps out the details of the proposed changes, the first image presented as a good example of higher density homes is a block of units in Lane Cove.
Perhaps the suburb is a poster child of development done well, however, that’s not to say that all residents are in favour of such changes, and maybe not to the extent that the State Government is proposing. Lane Cove would expect multi-level shop top units if the plans are approved.
Local environmentalists have raised concerns that these new planning controls will apply in Heritage Conservation Areas. Even the NSW Government itself admits the changes will be significant in the locations where new housing is delivered.
While Lane Cove Council has not made its full response available as yet (that is, by time of print), it has already flagged some concerns, particularly that proposed controls relating to traffic and tree canopy retention will be overridden in some circumstances.
City of Ryde has advised that it will oppose the plans in their current form, noting that the State Government has “not delivered on the required infrastructure to support the increased residential density that City of Ryde has already experienced.”
The opening of the higher density floodgates comes at a time where the cost of land across Sydney, NSW and in fact, the whole of Australia, is at a higher premium than it has ever been.
“The national median price of a residential block of land in Australia reached $340,000 in the third quarter of 2023, a new record high and up by more than a quarter compared to before the pandemic,” explained Housing Industry Australia Senior Economist Tom Devitt.
“Shortages of shovel ready land saw lot prices surge during the pandemic, while the volume of lots being sold has plummeted to 20-year lows,” he added.
Devitt believes that alleviating the housing shortages in Australia require a supply-driven approach, and the Federal Government’s ambition to build 1.2 million welllocated homes in five years is a step in the right direction.
“It would further require the release of more shovel-ready residential land into the market, which the data suggests has fallen to levels inconsistent with required levels of home building,” he said.
The deterioration in housing affordability has coincided with increased demand for social housing and an increase in the number of people sleeping rough.
The number of priority applicants for social housing on the NSW Housing Register has jumped massively in the last few
years, from 4,484 applicants in June 2019 to 7,573 in June 2023. There are now more than 55,000 applicants on the NSW Housing Register.
Sleeping rough is also becoming a growing problem in NSW. The NSW Statewide Street Count has found the number of people sleeping rough in the state increased 34% from 2022 to 2023.
As housing affordability in NSW has decreased, people have become concerned that owners are making fewer properties available for long-term use, and that this may be contributing to a rise in rents. Over the past decade, the short-term rental accommodation market has expanded rapidly in NSW.
In an increasingly tight housing market, the effects of short-term rental accommodation on housing affordability have become more apparent.
Short-term rentals in LGAs such as Lane Cove and Hunters Hill are restricted to a maximum of 180 days per annual period, unlike LGAs where there are no restrictions at all. However, that is still six months of every 12 where a house can be inhabited by a temporary tenant.
Last month, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure issued a discussion paper on short-and longterm rental accommodation.
It is looking at potential policy options, including revenue measures, to incentivise property investors to make properties available for long-term rental accommodation.
A search on realestate.com.au for rental properties in the Lane Cove LGA shows fewer than 400 properties of all types.
Continued over page >
The cheapest one-bedroom property is priced at $525.00 per week. The lowest cost for a three-bedroom rental –more in keeping with the requirements of a typical family – is $830.00 per week.
Anyone on an average salary (teachers – average salary $74K, nurses - $72K, administrative workers - $44K) is going to struggle to find affordable accommodation anywhere on the lower north shore.
Current projections (by the State Government) indicate that another 1.7 million people will call NSW home by 2041, suggesting nearly 900,000 additional dwellings will be needed. All of this will create a scarcity battle.
Last year, Sydney’s median property price surged to 13.3 times the median income; 35.3% of renters are in housing stress and the city is ranked the sixth-least affordable city, beating New York and London. Only Hong Kong, San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver and Tel Aviv were less affordable.
Eamon Waterford, CEO of the Committee for Sydney (the city’s urban policy think tank) welcomed the direction NSW Government is taking.
“The reforms announced by the NSW Government are bold – and bold action is what’s required to solve what is the key intergenerational issue facing Sydney.
“Our research shows right now, Sydney is losing more than $10bn a year from lost productivity, lost talent and lost innovation as a result of our unaffordable housing. If we don’t take action, less than half the children born today will ever own a house in this city.
“What’s more, our research shows the community
understands the need for increased density, and backs it.
“All levels of government need to work together so young people can afford to stay in Sydney.
“The blanket controls proposed are going to be imperfect and will need fine tuning over time, but in light of Sydney’s housing challenge, they are urgently needed.
“Local governments know their communities and local neighbourhoods intimately, in ways state governments can’t, so it’s appropriate to give councils tools to deliver housing their own way – but these must meet or exceed the scale of housing proposed by the state,” he said.
Waterford told the media: “Support growth in your local community, become a yimby, show up to council meetings and speak on behalf of development that’s going to see significant numbers of houses being built into communities.
“Speak to your neighbours about the existential challenge, recognise that building housing for people that are different to you is a really good outcome for your community because that diversity breeds vibrancy.”
The short-term and long-term rentals consultation paper, where your feedback is urged, is online at the www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au.
The deadline for submissions is March 14.
Quartet:
Residential flat building on Huntley Street, Alexandria
The following changes are proposed to take effect by the end of June 2024:
Allow dual occupancies (two dwellings on the same lot) with a minimum lot size of 450 square metres in all R2 low density residential zones. Currently new dual occupancies require a minimum lot size of 750 square metres and are not permitted to be strata titled in the Lane Cove Local Government Area. This has tended to minimise the number of dual occupancies.
Allow terraces, townhouses and 2 storey apartment blocks within 800 metres of transport hubs (St Leonards) and town centres (such as the Lane Cove Village) in R2 low density residential zones.
Currently this type of development is not permitted in R2 low density residential zones as it is not deemed low density.
Allow mid-rise apartment blocks {4 to 6 storeys} within 800m of train stations (such as St Leonards) and town centres (such as the Lane Cove Village) in R3 medium density zones.
Council has already included higher density around the Lane Cove town centre and St Leonards Station precinct.
Creation of new development standards that encourage diverse homes to be built.
The Lane Cove Local Government Area’s planning controls will continue to apply, but only to the extent they are not inconsistent with the proposed new planning controls.
Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 7.30pm
Nexas (Saxophone) Quartet presents “An American in Paris”
Jane Stanley – Violin. Leo Kram – Violin. Neil Thompson – Viola. Emily Palethorpe – Cello.
Accent Strings is delighted to present a program beginning with some wonderful music from the Baroque and Classical periods including works of Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart, followed by a selection of contemporary pieces which will get your feet tapping. These will include popular numbers by the Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Cyndi Lauper, Elton John and other millennial favourites.
Travel to the city of Paris of the 1920s with the Nexas (Saxophone) Quartet as they reveal the profound influence this vibrant city had on the musical style and creative approach of George Gershwin. In particular, Gershwin was drawn to the jazz-infused rhythms and exotic harmonies of French music, which he seamlessly incorporated into his own compositions. The syncopated rhythms and lush orchestrations of pieces like “An American in Paris” reflect Gershwin’s fascination with the energy and vitality of the city.
VENUE:
Tuesday 9th May 2023 at 7.30pm.
LCM Anglican Church (St. Andrew’s), 19 Rosenthal Avenue, Lane Cove, behind the Post Office. Free parking opposite at The Canopy
LCM St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. 19 Rosenthal Avenue Lane Cove behind the Post Office and opposite The Canopy Car Park.
Bookings with TryBooking, accessed via our website from:
Tuesday 18th April 2023: www.lanecovemusic.org.au
• Tickets through Try Booking may be purchased from 9am on Tuesday 20th February 2024 via our website www.lanecovemusic.org.au
• Become a subscriber and enjoy six 2024 concerts for $90, Pensioner concession $55.
Limited admission (cash only) at the door on the night, online bookings preferred.
Adults $30, Students $10 - enquiries are welcome at 9428 4287.
• Limited admission at the door on the night, online bookings preferred. Tickets at the door (cash only) $30 visitor, $10 student.
Future 2023 Concerts, all Tuesdays at 7.30pm: 20th June, 8th August, 10th October, 28th November.
• Enquiries welcome at 9428 4287.
Future 2024 Concerts, all Tuesdays at 7.30pm: 14th May, 25th June, 13th August, 8th October, 26th November.
Advertise with The Village Observer and support your local community
For enquiries, or to book your advert, please contact: advertising@thevillageobserver.com.au
The Governor-General announced the Honours and Awards for 1,042 Australians back in January. Recipients have made a difference and had an impact at the local, national and/or international level. Individually, they are inspiring and collectively they speak to the strength of our communities.
organisations.
Neil has been involved in the emergency services for the last 50 years, becoming Assistant Chief of the Melbourne Fire Brigade and CEO of the Victorian Country Fire Authority, retiring in 2010. Retirement didn’t suit Neil, and two projects keep him busy: chairing the Emergency Serviced Foundation (ESF) for the past nine years and assisting in the development of innovation throughout the emergency services sector. Neil has been involved in varied projects, including but not limited to, drones, simulated training, instantaneous translation, solar panel safety, community education and electric truck design. Neil’s position as the editor-in-chief of Asia Pacific Fire Magazine sees him keep his finger on the pulse of the emergency service industry.
Neil’s achievements include:
• Emergency and Safety Industry.
• Member, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, current.
• Editor, Asia Pacific Fire Magazine, MDM Publishing, since 2015.
• Former Governor, Warren Centre for Technology and Engineering, University of Sydney.
• Former Member, Australian Standards Development Board.
• Former Member, Building Codes Board of Australia.
Stephen William Callister (Greenwich) – for significant service to the community, particularly men’s health.
Stephen was diagnosed with prostate cancer aged 54 in 2004. Today, he is National Chair of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Its vision is to increase awareness, provide funds for research and support men and their families. Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia National Board Member, Distinguished Emeritus Professor Judith Clements AC said: “A/Prof Callister has made a profound contribution to prostate cancer research, awareness and support over the past 20 years, helping to overcome stigma of the disease and raising significant funds for research and specialist nursing care. This is a deservedly prestigious recognition of his distinguished service.”
Stephen’s achievements include:
• Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia National Chair, since 2018.
• National Deputy Chair, 2015-2018.
• Chair, Marketing and Fundraising Committee, 2009.
• Member, National Support and Advocacy Committee.
• Member, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre NSW, Garvin Centre, current.
• Convenor, St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Support Group, 2005.
The late Emeritus Professor Adrian Lee (Lane Cove) – For significant service to tertiary education, to microbiology, and to professional organisations Professor Adrian Lee passed away in 2023. TVO was very fortunate to know Adrian. Last year we wrote this about the local unsung hero who contributed to the work of a Nobel Prize (in microbiology):
“How much can be crammed into one life? Adrian Lee, long-time Lane Cove resident and known to many as the President of the local choir La Voce, may very well be the envy of us procrastinators. His Memoir
“An Enthusiastic Life: Family, Guts, Academia and Leadership” revealed a man who led a jam-packed, nota-moment-wasted, noteworthy and above all, happy life. He joked in his memoir that he was often distracted by Fox Sports. It was terribly hard to believe.”
Professor Lee’s achievements include:
• Former Emeritus Professor of Microbiology (University of New South Wales).
• Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Quality Improvement, 2003-2006.
• Chair, Australian Universities Quality Agency Panel.
• Chief Investigator, 13 funded grants, National Health and Medical Research Council.
• Author of five books, and 188 journal articles.
• President and Member, LaVoce Community Choir.
Lenore Elizabeth Robertson (Longueville) – for significant service to the community and the arts
Lenore has been Director, then Chair of the Robertson Family Foundation Chair since 2006. Over the course of many years, she has bolstered the capacity of the arts to enrich individual lives, foster diversity, and enhance equality in our community. This year, Leonore said she is looking forward to doing more work in the Lane Cove area and is excited about working with Lane Cove Council to find a local performance space for the Lane Cove Theatre Company and other local arts groups to call home.
Lenore’s achievements include:
• Partner/Supporter, Social Ventures Australia, Dementia Australia, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, The Social Outfit and Human Rights Watch.
• Board Member and Chair, Griffin Capital Appeal, Griffin Theatre Company, since 2016.
Board Member, Milk Crate Theatre, 2013-2022.
• Director, Nautanki Theatre Company, 2013-2016.
Human Rights Watch Member, Sydney Committee, 2018.
• Chair and/or Member of Fundraising Committee, Saint Ignatius’ College. Teacher, Mathematics and French, St Ursula’s College, 1978-1984.
Christine Florence Butters (Northwood) – for services to the community through music and sport
Christine is well known to TVO through her work promoting Longueville Tennis Club, Lane Cove Music and events at St Andrew’s Longueville. In 2016, she was awarded Lane Cove Citizen of the Year. She said that volunteering has been part of her life since she was encouraged by her parents to help wherever possible, if help was needed and if she was able to do so. “It is a surprise and a great honour to receive this public acknowledgement for what I feel is a natural part of being a member of a local community. It has always been a pleasure meeting people with similar interests, working as a team and learning more about your common interests. The special friends you make, the fun you experience and the return you receive for doing something you enjoy much outweighs any input,” said Christine. Christine’s achievements include:
• Lane Cove Music President, since 2001.
The Federated Music Clubs of Australia NSW Council Inc, President, then Deputy President since 2012.
Committee Member, Friends of Sydney Eisteddfod.
• Longueville Tennis Club, Committee Member since 1991, Life Member since 2016.
military medicine and patient safety
Glendon said that the OAM was a surprise, and he is very honoured to be recognised in this way. “I’ve tried to make a positive difference in all my roles over the years, but I’ve only been able to do this with the support of colleagues and most importantly my family. They have had to deal with my frequent travels and the impact of my difficult work in patient safety. I am grateful to them beyond measure.”
Glendon’s achievements include:
• Honorary Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, current.
• Director of Clinical Governance and Medical Administration, Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, 2012-2019.
• Commanding Officer, Sydney Area Health Service, Australian Defence Force, 2002-2005.
• Officer Commanding, Primary Casualty Resuscitation Facility, HMAS Kanimbla, Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004-2005.
• Specialist Service Officer, 1981-2022.
WORDS: ANDREW CORISH
Separation can be a challenging time,
especially when children are involved. As a specialist family lawyer, I am passionate about helping parents navigate this difficult period and establish positive parenting arrangements that prioritise the best interests of their children.
There have been major changes to the Family Law Act concerning which commence in May this year. It is uncertain what impact they will have. They certainly prioritise the “safety” of the parents and children above everything else. Disappointingly they do not do anything to decrease the level of anger, dispute and competitiveness which so characterise parenting disputes in the Federal Circuit and Family Court.
In the great majority of cases, the key issue is how to support and encourage a friendly and harmonious coparenting arrangement with the other parent. We know that children thrive when they see their parents being respectful to each other and cooperating for their benefit. By putting aside personal negative emotions, parents can create a nurturing environment where children can thrive in the care of two loving families. The children are then able to spend significant time with both parents and experience the joy of having two separate loving families.
Equally we see the negative effects upon children if they get caught up in their parent’s dispute. It is really important to put aside anger and resentment as far as possible. Court proceedings should be a last resort. It is sad to see the effect upon children, whose parents cannot prioritise the well-being of their own children against their own negative emotions.
I appreciate it can be a difficult and tense situation. Sometimes it is necessary to take a stand and stand up for the rights of the children to be safe and happy and to have suitable parenting arrangements. But always try to be positive. Try to reach a fair agreement in the children’s best interests as quickly, fairly and inexpensively as possible. Then put the agreement down in writing as a Parenting Agreement or Consent Orders.
At Modern Divorce Solutions, we can help you understand the new parenting legislation and guide you in crafting parenting agreements that best serve your children's interests. To streamline this process, we have developed the "Lawfully Uncoupling Program", an efficient and cost-effective online solution designed to help parents navigate post-separation complexities and enter into appropriate Parenting Agreements or Consent Orders.
If you are interested or know someone who could benefit, please contact Andrew Corish for a discussion and, if you then wish, have a free, no-obligation consultation.Andrew Corish, Modern Divorce Solutions
Phone: 02 8075 0141
See Website for more information:
www.moderndivorcesolutions.com.au
Delightfully renovated and secure one-bedroom units surrounding an oasis of greenery, shady trees, and flowering gardens.
Close to everything you love about Lane Cove, Northcott Gardens is a perfect choice for those looking for an affordable and comfortable retirement lifestyle.
Open to view Tuesday 12 March from 2pm to 3pm or by appointment. Contact Janne Scott on 9299 3951 or visit vasey.com.au for more information.
You may already be familiar with the term Philanthropy.
Now there is a new buzz word in the world of charitable giving, ‘Willanthropy,’ an act by someone who leaves a gift in their Will to charity.
It is a common misconception that only the wealthy can make a meaningful impact through legacy giving in a Will. Willanthropy is something everyone can do. Willanthropy comes in all shapes and sizes, from real estate, shares, or cash to leaving a percentage of your estate to the charity or charities important to you. Everyone who makes a Will can be a Willanthropist!
At Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation (SCHF), those who become Willanthropists know that leaving a legacy is an act of kindness making a long-lasting and positive impact on countless lives well into the future.
Leaving a gift in a Will, as little as 1%, can make a significant difference to the future of sick kids and help them live their healthiest lives.
Willantropist Lyn Cecil is a mum of a baby who survived thanks to the wonderful care received at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick in the 1970s. “I’m a retired Mum. I may not be in the position to make a significant
donation today, but through my Will, I can in the future.”
By leaving a gift in your Will to SCHF, you can help fund groundbreaking research, purchase vital cutting-edge equipment, and enable SCHF to continue its mission to ensure worldclass health care for kids.
“Bequests gifts are a lifeline for children and families and a wonderful legacy to leave for the next generation.” Said
Willanthropist Emeritus Professor, Kim Oates AO, former Chief Executive, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. SCHF has partnered with Safewill, Australia’s highest rated online Will writing platform. Safewill makes it quick, easy, and affordable to write your Will online and have it reviewed by Safewill’s legal team to ensure it has been filled out correctly.
SCHF through Safewill is pleased to offer you the opportunity to write your online Will for Free during 18-24 March 2024! (usually $160). To learn more, contact us on 1800 770 122, plannedgiving@schf.org.au or visit www.schf.org.au/gift-in-will
Be a part of something big and help us build a healthy future for sick kids.
TO LEARN MORE, SCAN THE QR CODE, VISIT: www.schf.org.au/gift-in-will OR CALL: 1800 770 122 OR EMAIL: plannedgiving@schf.org.au
P: 0402 406 241 E: sbennison@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
It was fantastic to welcome more than 100 new Australian citizens to Lane Cove on Australia Day. We’ve received such positive feedback from new citizens and their families who had a special start to becoming an Australian citizen. We heard from a range of guest speakers, including our Australia Day Ambassador Jason Sotiris and Lane Cove local Paul Fenech who shared their thoughts on being Australian. This Australia Day was celebrated with new citizens receiving an Australian flag and a traditional pair of rubber thongs. They were also entertained with Aussie rock music from AC/DC and classics such as Slim Dusty's ‘Pub with no Beer’. Our Citizenship Ceremonies continue to be held throughout the year with a further 30 new citizens welcomed at our February service.
We know our community is concerned about one of the biggest NSW Government changes to housing policy in decades. Council held a special information session a few weeks back which was followed by Council making a submission to the NSW Government on the matter. We’ve raised our concerns on the changes bringing widespread permissibility of dual occupancy developments and the reduction of minimum lot sizes for dual occupancies. Council also highlighted the impact of six storey apartment buildings in R3 Medium Density Zones. There were a number of other concerns raised within our submission and l will keep the community updated on what it learns as the proposed plans progress.
Works to upgrade the drainage and irrigation are now complete with the final weeks of closure in place so that the playing surface is restored before the start of the autumn sporting season.
We completed the works to extend the availability of the area during wet weather and help sustain better turf coverage across the oval.
This summer we welcomed our first Share Kayak to Lane Cove. If you’ve not yet heard about it, you can rent a kayak by the hour at Burns Bay thanks to a lease between the operators and Council. I went along to check out how easy it was and enjoyed the chance to explore the nearby waters. You can find out more about how it works by visiting Share Kayak’s Facebook page.
The sold out Taylor and the Besties concert was a sensational experience for young and young-at-heart last month. The green was packed, everyone was singing along and hundreds of Swifties were front and centre from start to finish. The Canopy, envisioned by the councillors elected in 2012, continues to stand as a centrepiece, delivering on our
collective vision for the village. It offers family entertainment to both our residents and visitors to Lane Cove, while also supporting small local businesses. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Council's events team for once again delivering an excellent event. It’s hard to believe this Council-led development used to be an open-air car park!
Our next concert is the Last Stand Chisel Barnes Show on Saturday 16 March. Join us for another great evening of Aussie rock – tickets are available at www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ events.
This month Council celebrates a range of important dates in the annual calendar including International Women’s Day, Harmony Day, Neighbour Day and of course Seniors Week. We have more than 30 Seniors Week events taking place in the coming weeks so be sure to view your guide on Council’s website www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/seniors. It’s an exciting opportunity to join in the theme ‘reach beyond’ and discover something new in Lane Cove this March.
The next Council meeting will be held on Thursday 21 March 2024. Details: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/meetings
Tuesday 5 March, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Living and Learning Centre
Join us as we share tips to help keep your energy bills under control and share cost saving ideas.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
With special guest and Lane Cove local, Wendy McCarthy AO
Wednesday 6 March, 7:00am – 8:30am, Lane Cove Community Hub
Celebrate International Women’s Day with a thought-provoking conversation with special guest and Lane Cove local, Wendy McCarthy AO.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Wednesday 6 March, 10:00am – 11:00am, Mindarie Park
Wednesday 13 March, 10:00am – 11:00am, Blackman Park
Did you know Council has outdoor exercise equipment, specifically designed for our seniors? Learn how to get the most out of this equipment at this special introductory session.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Tuesday 12 March, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
This session will explain some of the potential dangers we may encounter while online and provide some simple steps we can take to stay safe.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Tuesday 12 March, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, online
Are you planning or considering a new build or renovation? Join us online to explore how to select and source sustainable building materials.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Thursday 14 March, 6:15pm – 7:30pm, Lane Cove Library
Hear Allan Sicard, former NSW Police Commander and author of ‘The Courage to Lead’ share his story on empowering others to lead.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Wednesday 13 March 11:30am – 1:30pm
Dougherty Centre, 7 Victor Street, Chatswood
This free workshop will be delivered in Mandarin and cover practical advice for senior pedestrians including tips on using public transport.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ seniors
Saturday 16 March, 10:30am – 11:30am, Lane Cove Library
A wonderful opportunity to gain insights into local Aboriginal heritage, culture and connection to the land and waterways with Karen Smith from the Aboriginal Heritage Office.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
The Canopy Music Concert: Last Stand Chisel Barnes Show
Saturday 16 March, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, The Canopy
Combine the classic tunes of both Cold Chisel and Jimmy Barnes and you have a night like no other.
Join us for a night of anthems such as Flame Trees, Choir Girl, Cheap Wine and of course Khe Sanh. $10 + booking fee per person.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Tuesday 19 March, 7:00pm – 8:30pm, The Diddy, Longueville Road, Longueville
Learn how solar panel and battery systems work, what size system you should get, how much it will cost, how much you will save and your positive environmental impact.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Seniors Festival Movie: Finding Your Feet (M)
Thursday 21 March, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Lane Cove Library
Join us for a free screening of Finding Your Feet (M), a film about a woman moving in with her bohemian sister after discovering her husband has been having an affair with her best friend.
Moments in Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wednesday 27 March, 10:00am – 12:00pm, Lane Cove Library
Local musician Graham Ball discusses this highly influential, popular and prolific composer of the Classical period.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Community Education Session: Alcohol and Other Drugs Living Series
Wednesday 27 March, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Lane Cove Community Hub
A panel of lived experience advocates and staff from alcohol and other drug services will share their knowledge about alcohol and drugs, and journeys to recovery.
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Family Author Talk with Ann Göth: Neighbourhood Brush-turkeys
Tuesday 26 March, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Lane Cove Library
No matter if you love or hate them, this family talk by local Sydney author Ann Göth will have fascinating facts for everyone!
Book online: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
ENQUIRIES:
lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events
Initially our Bushcare Coordinator had trouble even finding the spot, tucked away at the end of Northwood peninsula. He’d been told it was a hidden gem, but the view out over the river at the bottom of the stairs was unexpected and quite beautiful.
The way in though, was a different story, neglected, overgrown and weedy. It was one of those small community land parcels that Council tries to maintain but isn’t as prominent as others. Leigh and Margie understood this and were proposing to do something themselves to improve the environmental value of this spot. And so Point Lane Bushcare was born.
With neighbour Mary-Ellen joining up and supported by Council staff, the group made inroads into the weedy overgrowth. Gently uncovering native plants and planting many more, three years later, this previously unloved area has been transformed into something to be proud of – and a perfect spot to enjoy a peaceful morning tea break during their Bushcare visits.
Last year the site suffered a setback when a beautiful old Banksia tree was lost in a storm, however the group have replanted a new one to take its place. The success of this site shows that with some dedicated volunteers and consistent work, an overlooked piece of land can be made into something special.
You too can discover the enjoyment and satisfaction in restoring the balance of nature by volunteering through Bushcare. Council is hosting several Come and Try Bushcare Days, perfect for getting a sense of what is involved in being a local Bushcare volunteer. Our next days are:
• Saturday 2 March, 1:00pm - 3:00pm at Moore Street, Lane Cove West
• Thursday 23 May, 9:00am – 11:00am at Manns Point, Greenwich Join our friendly team for a few hours in nature and see how you can make a difference to our bushland. Discover common native and exotic plants and be prepared to tackle a few weeds! A perfect opportunity to give Bushcare a go - no experience needed, all tools and equipment provided. Bookings essential: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events. With more than 20 Bushcare groups in Lane Cove, there is sure to be a group which suits your needs and new members are always welcome. For more details on how Bushcare works, visit: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcare.
Bushcare is one of many ways to connect to and discover more about the natural world at our doorstep. We also have some fantastic free talks coming up which may be of interest:
Wildlife
• Thursday 14 March, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Online presentation
The Lane Cove River teems with fish and marine life, but which species of fish or frog survive in our urban creeks? A recent study by consultants Applied Ecology has answered this very question – and the results may surprise you! Join us for a closer look at Lane Cove’s creeks and the species which live within as ecologist Anne Carey presents the findings of this latest fauna survey.
Bookings essential: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events.
• Tuesday 26 March, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Lane Cove Library
Not many Australian birds are as controversial as Brush-turkeys? No matter if you love or hate them, this family talk by local Sydney author and Brush-turkey expert Ann Göth will have fascinating facts for everyone!
Bookings essential: lanecove.nsw.gov.au/events.
This month we’re talking restorative dentistry with Dr Andrew See who combines passion, artistic flare and extensive knowledge of dentistry to answer any questions you may have. He has advanced training in aesthetic and implant dentistry.
Reader’s question: “I have receding gums and my teeth are sensitive. I’ve been told there’s nothing I can do about this, is this true?
Dr See says: A big myth is that there’s nothing you can do about receding gum. The primary cause is from repetitive aggressive toothbrushing. Nevertheless, if there’s a lot of bacteria around the teeth from poor oral hygiene and lack of professional cleans this will cause bone loss and receding gums. However, I see a lot of patients who have fantastic oral hygiene and are not aggressive at toothbrushing yet have significant localised gum recession.
The literature tells us that there are other things at play. Higher levels of recession are associated with thin gum tissues as well as when teeth are slightly pushed outside the bone either from malposition or from post orthodontic movements, combined with aggressive toothbrushing.
It has been largely ignored because we simply did not have a reliable way to treat it. Left untreated often leads to tooth sensitivity. Restorations can be placed over the tooth surface to insulate it. However, this creates a ‘join’ between the tooth and restoration that always causes extra plaque retention, exacerbating the recession.
Fortunately, advanced minimally invasive approaches using specialised instruments and techniques can regenerate gum tissue predictably. Let’s look at a case that we regenerated gum tissue. We were able to achieve this transformative result through connective tissue graft using the Gold Standard in soft tissue grafting - the patient’s own tissue.
Correcting the gum recession by soft tissue grafting not only restores the natural gum line improving aesthetics but also resolves sensitivity issues and makes the gum tissues thicker and more resilient contributing to overall long-term oral health.
For patients who prioritise natural outcomes and long-term health benefits, nothing more natural surpasses using one’s own tissues to regenerate lost tissue, rather than resorting to placing a man-made restoration as temporary fixes.
Our commitment to knowledge, artistry, precision, and patient satisfaction ensures that we can look at every case in unique ways. If you are looking for a dentist who excels in creating natural results, we invite you to experience the difference with us. We understand that your teeth and smile is your signature, and our team is here to help you make it as remarkable as you are.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
9816 4885 dr.andrewsee advanceddentistrysydney.com.au
DR ANDREW SEE BDS Hons (Syd), FRACDS, MSc(Lond), PGDipDentImplantology, FCGDENT(UK), FICOI, MFDS RCSEng
Dr Andrew See has dedicated the last 20 years to Aesthetic Dentistry and has unique qualifications in cosmetic dentistry and rehabilitation.
This includes a three year Masters in Aesthetic Dentistry from the prestigious King’s College London and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Implantology.
Dr See completed his Fellowship by primary and secondary examinations for The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (FRACDS).
FRACDS is the mark of professional achievement in dentistry and demonstrates attainment of an advanced level and skill in Dentistry.
If you have any questions you have always wanted to know about aesthetic or implant dentistry write to us at: info@advanceddentistry sydney.com.au
Common reasons to see a GP and why it may be more important that you think
GP shortages, extended waiting times to see a GP, and cost of living pressures are understandably taking a growing toll on our healthcare system. Reports indicate that Australians are cutting back on seeing their local doctor as a result.
This has a flow-on effect. Worsening of health conditions, due to lack of monitoring and treatment, and a growing number of attendances for simple ailments to our alreadysaturated emergency departments are just some of the consequences.
Whilst the solutions to the above are complex (and beyond the scope of this article), there are many reasons to still strive to see your local doctor as regularly as you can. Below are just a few common reasons why Australians visit their GP and why this is still important:
Try to plan ahead of time to see your doctor rather than leaving it until your last remaining tablet. Sometimes this can be done via a telehealth appointment, but a seemingly simple request may be more involved than expected and needs an in-person consultation. For example, blood pressure needs to be measured to ensure treatments are still working, or that other medications (like the oral contraceptive pill and some antidepressants) are actually not worsening blood pressure. Many medications need regular blood tests monitoring to ensure no kidney or liver damage, and to check for improvements (like cholesterol and blood glucose levels).
It is important to contact your doctor straight away when you require a certificate. Your GP will need to examine you carefully to obtain all your sickness details. Medical certificates are legal documents and cannot be backdated before the date of your actual GP attendance. The certificate is
Dr Carl Wong is a Lane Cove-based GP and sits on the board of Sydney Community Services.
only a statement of illness, and it needs to be still accepted by one’s employer. Many GP practices have ‘emergency appointment slots’ to fit in patients with unexpected acute illnesses.
‘Doc, my specialist appointment is in half an hour’s time. I only need you to write me a quick referral’ is a frequent request to GPs. If only it was that easy! You would not expect the specialist to write their final report in that demanding timeframe, and GPs are no different. Your GP will need to find out exactly what is the problem and professionally summarise in a referral letter to assist your specialist (or allied health professional). It is not uncommon to tell patients that they actually needed a different specialist than the one they had in mind, or even, sometimes, not one at all, as your GP could
competently manage the problem. But even for a simpler repeat referral, your GP will still need to summarise any interim issues you’ve been having, collect measurements and provide copy of results. Your medication list needs to be rechecked as does your current allergies. This is to ensure that your specialist has as much of your current information to help you and to minimise any avoidable problems. Specialist referrals are only 12-month duration - this is a good thing as this allows your GP to update your current information. ‘Indefinite-length specialist referrals’ are risky which this doctor politely declines when requested, for this very reason.
Current RMS guidelines indicate that you need to have a driving medical assessment annually from age 75 and potentially also younger if you have
certain medical conditions. This assessment is routinely done by your usual GP who must know your health well, hence another good reason to have an ongoing regular relationship with your doctor. Apart from prescription glasses, if you have any eye conditions, remember to have a prior eye assessment completed by your optometrist or eye specialist. An interim medical approval can be made if your renewal requires further specialist input. Examples of this include people suffering from seizures, or fainting episodes or after certain surgeries.
Finally, a good GP is also always on the lookout for more things they can do for you whilst you are with them, often for completely different reasons that what you are originally there for. Are you due for any vaccinations (eg COVID/influenza boosters) or your annual health check? How about cancer screenings – mammogram, pap smear and bowel cancer checks? Healthy heart checks? Osteoporosis screening? Are you due to see your specialist and need updated tests completed or new referral written? How about more medication repeats to save you another consultation later? The list goes on. Seeing your local doctor regularly means they can get to know you and your family over time and can provide care that is right for you. Find a GP that you trust and feel comfortable talking to, as GPs are usually the first person you’ll see if you have a health concern, will coordinate your healthcare and can look after you throughout your whole life.
Kay came to Easy Care Gardening when her late husband was no longer able to maintain the garden. Each day that passed, Kay’s garden was becoming overgrown and unsafe. One day Kay lost her dear husband and her wish to remain living at home, safely and with a level of independence, became a priority.
Kay’s story is not uncommon as many seniors are faced with the decision to stay at home or seek alternative care, as their homes become too challenging to safely maintain.
FREE MORNING TEA & MUSIC
for residents of Ryde, Hunters Hill & Lane Cove LGA s TRANSPORT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
SENIORS FESTIVAL 2024 BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
STALLS
Support Service Providers
Social & Special Interest Groups
9AM - 10.30AM or 11.30AM - 1PM
THURSDAY 21 MARCH
Lachlan’s Line Auditorium
Jarvis Circuit, North Ryde
RSVP to support@sydneycs.org
Phone: 9427 6425
huntershill.nsw.gov.au/events
Book transport via info@stryder.org.au
Phone: 9816 5000
“I have this lovely bunch of people who come to my garden to chat. They’re interesting (to speak with), and kind, and generous with their time.”Kay, Easy Care Gardening Client
Since 1988, Easy Care Gardening has been helping people who are older to live fulfilled lives at home for longer.
As a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation, we support our older clients by providing a volunteer gardening service, assisting in the conversion of gardens to “easy care” as safer and sustainable for the client. We facilitate connection and inclusion between our clients, volunteers, and partners as we work together to care for our older community.
We promote shared learning as we assist you to learn new skills or re-learn skills needed for keeping a safe and sustainable garden. This can also be an opportunity for our volunteers to learn from this shared experience. Lastly we acknowledge the importance of consumer/client directed care.
To continue our important work, we rely on volunteers who generously give their time to serving the community and helping others.
Western Australia has introduced a limit on ham in school canteens. Parents are reportedly confused and frustrated. So, what has changed and what evidence is it based on?
WORDS: LAUREN BALL Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, University of QueenslandThe WA Department of Health has reconfigured its system for classifying food and drink in public schools. It uses a traffic light approach, allocating green, amber or red colours to foods and drinks.
Ham and other processed red meats have been moved from an “amber” label to a “red” label.
Each colour is associated with restrictions on how food and drinks can be sold:
• green items must account for at least 60% of items on a menu
• amber items must account for less than 40% of items on a menu
• red items cannot be on the menu.
There’s one catch. The new guidelines allow ham to be sold as if it is an amber item, only two days per week, if ham was already on a canteen’s menu prior to the reconfiguration.
Singling out nutrients or foods as “good” or “bad” can lead to confusion and polarised views on diet. Rather than focusing on individual foods, long-term health outcomes are more closely linked to overall dietary patterns.
Ham itself is not inherently considered junk food. It’s a source of protein and many other nutrients.
However, certain types of ham products – especially highly processed or cured hams – are less healthy options for several reasons:
Many commercially available hams, especially highly processed and cured varieties, can be high in sodium, which is salt.
Excessive sodium intake is associated with health issues such as high blood pressure and can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes.
On average, Australian children consume more sodium than the recommended upper limit: 600 mg a day for children aged four to eight and 800 mg a day for those aged nine to 13.
The World Health Organization says reducing sodium is one of the most cost-effective ways nations can improve the health of their populations.
Some processed hams may contain additives, preservatives and flavourenhancers we should limit.
While ham is a good source of protein, certain cuts can be higher in saturated fat.
Any ham sold in canteens under the new rules (where ham is treated as an “amber” food until the canteen menu changes) must have less than 3g of saturated fat per 100g. Diets high in saturated fat are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. However, not all research supports this claim.
The methods to process and cure ham may involve smoking, which can produce compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In large quantities, these may cause health concerns, including increasing the risk of bowel cancer.
Lean, minimally processed ham, prepared without excessive sodium or additives, can potentially be a part of a healthy overall diet. And parents in WA can continue packing ham in their child’s lunchbox.
When choosing ham, read the labels and select products with a lower sodium content, minimal additives and healthier preparation methods.
When looking for low-salt alternatives to ham, there are several options to consider: turkey breast, chicken breast, smoke salmon, roast beef, homemade roasts, grilled veges.
When: Australia Day (Jan 26) 7:00am Where: Lane Cove
This stunning image of cirrocumulus clouds over Lane Cove came in last month - thanks to our reliable photographer Miki Oka.
If you have an image you would like us to publish, something that captures this area, email: editor@thevillageoberver.com.au
Winter sports will see fans and supporters gathering on fields, sidelines and even stadiums this month. Not to mention our TV screens that will become jampacked with games. Here are three game snacks, suitable for those chilly days outside and the sofa.
– serve with flatbreads
INGREDIENTS
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 medium or large onion, chopped
• 500g ground skinless turkey breast
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 can no-salt-added pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup sweetcorn
• Half a can no-salt-added tomato paste
• 4 medium shallots (green part only), sliced to top
METHOD
In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the chopped onion for 3 minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally
Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the turkey. Cook for 5 minutes, or until browned, stirring frequently to turn and break up the turkey.
Stir in the garlic, chili powder, pepper, and cumin. Stir in the remaining ingredients except the green onions. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until heated through, stirring frequently. Just before serving, sprinkle with the green onions.
INGREDIENTS
• Cauliflower
• Flour
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Hot sauce: Use your favourite hot sauce to toss the cauliflower in
• Butter
• Lemon juice
METHOD
There are two main parts to make these buffalo cauliflower wings. First is the batter to coat and crisp the cauliflower. And second is the buffalo sauce that will bind to the batter and flavour the cauliflower.
Make the batter: The batter is equal parts flour and water and whatever spices you want. The mixture consistency should be pretty thick and almost like a paste.
Be sure not to simply transfer it all together from the bowl or bag onto the baking sheet. Instead, place the battered cauliflower on one at a time to limit the excess batter and spread apart. This step helps to make sure the baked cauliflower is not soggy.
Buffalo sauce is basically hot sauce and butter. Generally, it’s 2 parts hot sauce to 1 part butter. Perhaps also add some lemon juice to give it a fresh zing. This does make them more spicy though, so adjust to your liking before you add the buffalo sauce to the cauliflower. Use a brush if you have one to coat the cauliflower with the sauce. Or you can dip them in the sauce using a spoon. Return to the baking dish and bake again.
• 6 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup salsa verde
• 1/2 avocado, pitted and cut into small pieces
Position an oven rack in the top of the oven, and preheat to 180 degrees Put the sweet potatoes on a rimmed baking pan, and bake until tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely. Split each in half lengthwise, and scoop out most of the flesh, leaving about a 1cm border all around. Put a rack on a rimmed baking pan. Arrange the potato skins skin-side up on the rack, and brush with 2 tablespoons of the oil. Bake until the skins are slightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut each in half crosswise.
Arrange the pieces skin-side down on the rack, and sprinkle each with mozzarella, parmesan and shallots. Bake until the mozzarella melts, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the potato skins from the oven, and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil. Top each with some salsa verde and avocado. Sprinkle with crushed chips.
Join Stephen Miller, our resident TV aficionado, as he shares his personal favourites and top recommendations in the ever-evolving world of television. From gripping dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, Stephen curates a selection of must-see shows that have kept him glued to the screen.
Amidst the backdrop of World War II, the brave airmen of the 100th Bomb Group navigate a perilous journey marked by bravery, sacrifice, and triumph. Masters of the Air, with its meticulous attention to detail and compelling character portrayals, seamlessly joins the ranks of acclaimed series like Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Expect nothing less than a compelling narrative with breath-taking aerial battles that blur the lines between fiction and reality.
★★★★½
Why you should watch it: A tense and thrilling tale that is both huge and epic in scale.
In 2012, Dr. Paolo Macchiarini’s pioneering thoracic surgery drew scepticism from Swedish peers; in the present, his operation on a young girl called Hannah intertwines with a romantic liaison with Benita Alexander, a journalist. Starring Édgar Ramírez and Mandy Moore, Dr. Death’s second season dissects a chilling tale of passion and deception. Fueled by scandal and suspense, it reveals the fraught doctor-patient relationship’s darker aspects, offering an addictive and unsettling exploration of medical ethics. ★★★★
Why you should watch it: Based on a true story, it may make you think twice the next time you visit the doctor.
Everyone Else Burns follows the zany adventures of the hyper-religious family as they juggle modern life’s chaos while dodging eternal damnation. This satirical comedy takes you on a wild ride through a made-up British Christian community where preparing for the apocalypse clashes hilariously with everyday mishaps under the leadership of the devout but easily distracted patriarch, David. I loved how this comedy delved into the complexities of faith, family, and the hilarious quest for heavenly survival. ★★★★
Why you should watch it: You will either love or hate this, but please try it.
Set in 1980s Brisbane, Eli Bell embarks on a poignant journey after answering a mysterious red telephone in his house’s basement. Netflix’s adaptation of Trent Dalton’s beloved novel beautifully captures the enchanting essence of this captivating tale, blending darkness with moments of levity. Despite its darker themes, Boy Swallows Universe maintains a remarkable balance, delivering a coming-of-age story that is both engaging and uplifting, thanks to its skilful writing and stellar cast performances.
★★★★★
Why you should watch it: An exhilarating journey of pure delight and adventure.
In a riveting documentary, the extraordinary saga of Alex Kurzem unfolds—a Jewish boy who, amidst scepticism, survived the Holocaust by masquerading as a Nazi mascot. His harrowing journey, which included four false identities and a relentless search for the truth over three decades, captivates with its raw emotion and startling revelations. Kurzem’s tale defies belief, offering a poignant reminder of resilience and the enduring search for identity in the face of unimaginable adversity.
★★★★½
Why you should watch it: A captivating true crime-esque investigation that will leave you guessing until the very end.
In Killers of the Flower Moon Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and director Martin Scorsese deliver a masterful epic that delves into the depths of American racial terror. Despite its extended runtime, the film offers a poignant examination of the nation’s complex relationship with Indigenous peoples. Even though its pacing may be sluggish for some, with it now included on AppleTV+, it’s a cinematic experience that should not be missed.
★★★★★
Why you should watch it: Strong performances, stunning cinematography, and a gripping narrative make it a compelling watch.
The glitz and glamour of Los Angeles belied a dark secret at its core, yet to be uncovered.
Meanwhile, celebrities all over the city, prepared to walk the red carpet, in couture fashions and glittering diamonds. It was Oscar's night.
As the afters party wound down, one particularly egotistical A lister and daredevil, rode his Harley downtown for kicks, stopping at the La Brea Tar Pits. There, beneath the slick, bubbling surface, something stirred from a two-million-year slumber.
The last sounds he heard, were his golden statuette hitting the pavement and the roar of the sabre-toothed tiger.
Perihan Bozkurt, Lane Cove
“Sir David of Denistone” (my knight in shining armour) lived by the code of chivalry, walking unobtrusively among us, helping all those who asked.
2021, the universe unexpectedly challenged him to a duel with the most malignant foe. He was advised the rules of engagement were ambiguous and furthermore he had no choice but to accept the challenge.
Wielding the heaviest of swords, David gallantly battled over 12 months against unbeatable odds. Despite his attentive Maiden and Squires, David was eventually overwhelmed by the power and speed of his nemesis most evil, Melanoma! Rest in Peace my beautiful husband, knight and soulmate.
Carolyn, Denistone
This is a tribute to my darling husband, forever my knight (passed 22.02.22)
Do you have a 100 word story?
Email: editor@thevillageobserver.com.au
Pizza + Movie Nights @ Longueville UC Hall, 47A Kenneth St, Longueville TIME : 6.30pm. Pizza; 7.15pm Movie
5 March - Falling for Figaro (2021) Romantic comedy set in the beautiful Scottish highlands, starring Joanna Lumley, Danielle Macdonald and Hugh Skinner.
“To find your voice, sing from the heart“
2 April - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) A compelling romantic drama and intriguing mystery set on the island of Guernsey during WWII starring Lily James, Michael Huisman, Glen Powell and Penelope Wilton.
Bookings essential on 9428 4287 or 9427 4740.
Cost $12 – the best value pizza/movie combo! BYO drinks.
Do you love to sing? Aqualuna Singers, Lane Cove’s four part a cappella choir, is the one for you. We sing popular, folk and world music and have a lot of fun. New members are always welcome, we don’t audition and your first rehearsal is free. Join us at St Aidan’s Hall, 1 Christina Street, Longueville, 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Wednesday evenings during school terms. Plenty of street parking. Enquiries: aqualunasingers@gmail.com www.aqualunasingers.com
Time 4U – Every Wednesday @ 10am till Noon
@ Longueville Uniting Church Hall, 47A Kenneth St, Longueville
Friendly and fun mornings with home-made morning tea, discussion, documentaries and board games in Longueville UC Hall, 47A Kenneth St, Longueville. All are welcome to come and join us.
Cost $5 Enquiries: Chris on 9428 4287
It’s never too early (or too late) to join a choir, Improve your health, your brain, your memory, make new friends and have fun!
We sing for the joy of it.
LaVoce Community Choir rehearses every Tuesday during school terms from 6.15 to 8.00pm at the Living and Learning Centre, 180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove.
We also present a number of public concerts during the year for us to enjoy along with the audience.
There is no audition or requirement to read music. We sing popular songs selected by the choir members. Our first rehearsal for this year is on Tuesday, 6 February. Join us!
Enquiries: lavoce.choir@icloud.com
www.lavocelanecove.com
Remember the 60’s? Okay you may not have been born but you can get a taste of the fashion, décor (lava lamp anyone?) and humour of that decade at Hunters Hill Theatre’s first production for 2024 –Boeing Boeing.
First performed in London in 1962 the play centres on bachelor Bernard, who has a flat in Paris and three airline stewardesses all engaged to him without knowing about each other. It all boils down to juggling timetables and a reliable maid who never forgets to change the photographs.
Bernard's life gets bumpy, though, when his friend Robert comes to stay, and complications such as bad weather and a fast new Boeing jet disrupt his careful planning. Soon, all three stewardesses are in the city simultaneously and catastrophe looms. Don’t miss this laugh out loud comedy/ farce and fasten your seatbelts for the most deliriously funny flight of your life.
Opens on Friday 8 March
Tickets can be purchased online at www.huntershilltheatre.com.au or by telephone 02 9879 7765
WHEN: every second Sunday. Feb-Nov.
COST: $50
CONTACT: robertharrington141@gmail.com or petersmith55@aapt.net.au
Sarah is currently a member of the Cammeragyl Wind Symphony, but also well known to locals as the president of Lane Cove Bowling Club, and a member of the Lane Cove Concert band. For the past 20 years, Sarah has lived in Lane Cove after emigrating to Australia in 2004.
She will join more than 90 musicians, conducted by KPO’s Artistic Director Paul Terracini for the the ‘Resurrection.’
Mahler composed his second symphony between 1888 and 1894. It was one of the most popular works during his lifetime and for more than 125 years since has been performed to acclaim throughout the world.
Mahler 2 is the second of his so-called ‘Wunderhorn Symphonies’ - due to the inspiration he derived, directly and indirectly, from Das Knaben Wunderhorn, the collection of German language poetry that exerted considerable influence on Austrian and German artists in the late 19th century. As the title suggests, the second symphony’s central theme is life and death, in particular, life after death.
Sunday 17 March, 3:00pm, The Concourse, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood
Tickets: Standard $55 | Concession $45 | Junior/Child $20 | Family (4 tickets, max 2 adults) $125
Bookings: www.kpo.org.au, in person at The Concourse or phone Ticketek 1300 795 012
Re-illuminated: female archetypes’ strength and endurance -
28 February – 28 March
What is shared by the mythological, historic, and contemporary women: Medusa, Eve, Joan of Arc and Kurdish Women Fighters? They were all powerful females, dispossessed of their powers. The list is long of women who endured mistrust and betrayal, leading to violence against them, even murder. And their fall from grace, their diminished status, has shaped our consciousness and expectations of womanhood ever since.
Lucienne Fontannaz’s ambitious painting project explores via the illuminations of art, the life and times of 13 archetype women. Through the alluring use of gold, an affirmative reinterpretation is brought to light, restoring the dignity and authority of such exemplary women, enabling them to be symbolically and practically inspirational today.
Opening Event: Friday 8 March, 6-8pm
- Attend the opening event, meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments.
- www.gallerylanecove.com.au/re-illuminated
Uneven terrain: surveying the landscape
28 February – 28 March
In partnership with Macquarie University Art Gallery Co-curated by Rhonda Davis, this exhibition will present the work of emerging and mid-career female-identifying artists alongside works by distinguished and influential artists from the collection of Macquarie University.
Opening Event: Friday 8 March, 6-8pm
- Attend the opening event, meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments.
- Please see www.gallerylanecove.com.au
Artists: Bronwyn Bancroft, Monika Behrens, Judy Cassab, Adrienne Doig, Rosalie Gascoigne, Marisabel Gonzalez, Angela Hayson, Samantha Hobson, Jennifer Keeler-Milne, Nicole Kelly, Ildiko Kovacs, Eva Kubbos, Fiona Lowry, Nurit Ophir & Sue Lalor, Felixe Rives, Sally Ross, Kate Shaw, Scarlett Stokoe, Brigitta Summers, Rosemary Valadon.
ArtXtra! is an exhibition open to all financial members of the Lane Cove Art Society. The exhibition is an insight into the diversity of the Society. Painting, printmaking and drawing are included in the exhibition.
All works are eligible for the prestigious Lloyd Rees Prize and the Guy Warren Prize for the two Best in Show. The names of the winning artists of both the Lloyd Rees Prize and the Guy Warren Prize are inscribed on an Honour Board displayed in the Lane Cove Library.
Opening Event: TBC, 6-8pm
- Attend the opening event, meet the artists and enjoy some refreshments.
- Please see www.gallerylanecove.com.au
- Artists: Members of the Lane Cove Art Society
‘Watch out old man!’
Tom recognised the youthful voice and the familiar clatter of skateboards along the variegated footpath behind him. He stumbled a little in the halflight as the line of scruffy skaters accelerated around him.
Tom stopped, took a few breaths and gently steadied himself for a moment against the cold metal lamppost. He pulled his beanie down over his ears. It was cooler than he had expected. Then, in calm acceptance of his declining agility, he shuffled over to the dilapidated bench seat beside a long planter box. Drawing up his walking stick and placing it comfortably across his lap, he wriggled along a few inches to settle for the best view of the plaza. What an ideal setting for an early evening of priceless entertainment!
He watched as the skaters dispersed in all directions before gracefully
WORDS: DR K LEIPER
Lane Cove Historical Society
The Parramatta Female Factory, on Australia's Register of the National Estate, is being considered for a World Heritage listing. With three of the original sandstone buildings intact it is one of Sydney's most interesting relics from the early colonial era. This March for its At the Podium series, the Lane Cove Historical Society brings you a special guest speaker who will tell you the fascinating and sometimes horrifying story of this early facility for convict women and children. Between 1804 and its closure in 1848 over 5,000 souls passed through its gates. It was called a 'factory' because it
choreographing themselves into a synchronised team to then regroup around the top of the terraced slopes to the sunken auditorium.
‘Take the jump!’ came a cry from Blue Tee-Shirt to Red Cap, who appeared to be the leader.
Red Cap paused for a moment, then gathered speed and flew across the steps. His board glued to his naked feet. His smooth landing set into play a continuous flow, along the same route, of effortless leaps from the rest of the wiry pack.
The still of the twilight was abruptly broken by distinct squeals and cries of delight from the opposite side of the plaza. A group of young teenies, brightly coloured tank tops widely dislocated from thigh-hugging denim skirts, hovered tightly together, creating a vibrant, giggling backdrop.
made cloth, including linen, wool and linsey woolsey (a coarse durable fabric used for such things as bed covers). It produced the colony's first export manufacture of 60,000 yards (55,000m) of woven cloth in 1822. It also functioned as a marriage bureau where an emancipated convict or free man could apply for a wife. In addition, it was an asylum for sick and elderly women and a prison for those unfortunates who again ran afoul of the law during their convict sentences. The women who lived at the factory resented being there and staged riots on five occasions.
There was little understanding or tolerance for these women. One authority viewed them as the "… disgrace of their sex. ... [They] are far worse than the men, and are generally found at the bottom of every infamous transaction committed in the colony." Another commented that
Peacock feathers rose among the skater set and Blue Tee-Shirt, Red Cap, Odd Socks, Black Wristband and the rest of the troupe readied themselves to put on a more spectacular show. Twists. Turns. Spins. Slalom around the benches. In, out and around the radiant spotlights created by the lamplights above. Down the steps and up again. Around the slopes and back again. Into the shadows and out again. A final flurry; a line leisurely re-formed; a quick acceleration, and the motley skaters disappeared into the night beyond. Teenies in tow.
‘Tom?’
A voice and a hand holding a bulging paper bag appeared from behind him. Tom didn’t move or say a word.
‘Thought I might find you here. We closed the bakery early as we were just about sold out. Happens every Easter:’ Tom took the paper bag and the warm voice continued: ‘Some hot cross buns I kept aside for you. I thought you might like them with your tea.’
Tom nodded and grinned a grateful thankyou. He tucked his newly acquired supper securely beneath his arm. Gently steadying himself onto the pavement with his walking stick, Tom hesitated for a moment or two, took another deep breath then leisurely, through the growing darkness, made his way home.
the place was "a grand source of moral corruption, insubordination and disease and spreads its pestilential influence through the most remote part of the colony." The women were described as "... destructive of all religion, morality and good order." "Their inherent propensities to do evil, every shape of vice and depravity seeming as familiar to them as the air they breathe." Their varied histories often tell a different story.
Dr. Carol Liston AO is an Associate Professor in History at the University of Western Sydney with the early colonial history of Sydney, particularly Greater Western Sydney, her special area of research.
Come and join us: it's free with welcoming wine and cheese platters. Tuesday 26 March from 7pm to 9pm at the Lane Cove Library.
Enquiries: 0418 276 365 www.lanecovehistorial society.com.au
As the President of the Lane Cove Public School P&C, I am incredibly proud of the strong relationship we have fostered over the past few years with Sydney Community Services. This not-for-profit has been a vital part of our community for over 60 years and undertakes such important, much needed work every day. Sydney Community Services supports the local community, including seniors, those living with a disability, people facing financial hardship, as well as young families, remain living independently and safely in their own homes.
For the second year in a row, Sydney Community Services was the charity partner for the Lane Cove Fun Run. This fantastic community event is organised in its entirety by volunteers through the Lane Cove Public School P&C.
The Lane Cove Fun Run 2023 was a resounding success with more than 2120 registrations for the two races, 2km and 5km, at Kingsford Smith Oval. Serious runners, as well as families, participated in the event on a perfect, warm and sunny day last September. The fundraising efforts were outstanding, so we were able to present a cheque of $6000 to Sydney Community Services at the end of 2023.
A new initiative undertaken by Lane Cove Public School was the Christmas present drive. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the school community with 100s of presents
being donated for local families experiencing financial hardship over the festive period.
We are now looking forward to our upcoming Cookbook and the World Food Fair, again working with Sydney Community Services. Also in the planning stages is the 2024 Lane Cove Fun Run. Plenty of time to train and help us make it another successful event on Sunday 8th September 2024. Lane Cove Public School P&C will continue our relationship with Sydney Community Services now and into the future with all our planned activities so we can make sure we support our wonderful local community. All the support we receive is greatly appreciated as it helps us help Sydney Community Services and those living in Lane Cove and its surrounds.
Caleb Taylor LCPS P&C President
I am deeply honoured to introduce myself as the newly appointed CEO of Sydney Community Services (SCS). I look forward to serving the community and building on our incredible 63year legacy of the organisation’s unwavering dedication to providing high quality services enabling people in our community to stay independent while also connected to the people and places that matter most to them.
Throughout my years of employment with SCS, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of community services in uplifting individuals and families, fostering resilience, and building stronger, more inclusive communities. I am truly inspired by the dedication and compassion of our organisation's staff, volunteers, and supporters, and I am eager to collaborate with every one of you to advance our mission and create meaningful change.
As we embark on this journey together, I am committed to listening and learning from all stakeholders, amplifying diverse voices, and championing innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of our community. I believe in the power of collaboration, empathy, and collective action to drive positive change, and I am excited to work alongside each of you to realise our shared vision of building a compassionate and inclusive community.
I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our supporters who contributed to our annual Christmas Food Drive. Your generosity enabled us to deliver over 250 Christmas hampers to individuals and families in need and filled our food bank, ensuring that our shelves are stocked with essential food and personal care items in the coming weeks. Your contributions have made a tangible difference to the lives of those in
T
E
need, providing nourishment, comfort, and hope during challenging times.
An enormous thank you goes out to:
• Lane Cove Public School
• Hunters Hill Public School
• Birrahlee Preschool
• Anglican Parish of Hunters Hill
• Gladesville Presbyterian Church
• Greenwich IGA
• Lane Cove Woolworths
• Elena Retirement Community Lane Cove
• Probus Club of Hunters Hill
• Hunters Hill Council staff
• Ciena Australia
• Fit Lane Cove
• Everyone who took a tag from the Tree of Joy in the Gladesville Shopping Centre and lovingly prepared a gift for an unknown friend.
As we head into March, there are plenty of exciting community events and initiatives to look forward to. The much-beloved NSW Seniors Festival is here! The festival is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and celebrates the role and contributions of older Australians. SCS has a packed program of events, catering to a wide variety of interests. Some of our brand new events include African Drumming and an Afternoon with Elvis. Take a look at the ‘What’s On’ section of this issue of the TVO for more information.
This month I would like to encourage everyone to take part in small acts of kindness, whether they be as simple as a smile, a helping hand, or a kind word. As Oscar Wilde once said –“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” Acts of kindness tend to have a ripple effect, inspiring others to pay it forward and spread joy. Let’s bring a little extra sparkle to our community in March.
Your support allows us to continue to improve the quality of life of people in the local community so they can remain living independently in their own homes for as long as they wish.
We are looking for volunteers for the following positions:
• Gardeners - We would like to find enthusiastic people to assist our gardening team. This runs on Tuesday to Thursday, 8.30am - 12 noon. There is flexibility and you can decide to volunteer weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Great team environment.
• Linen Service - Can you offer your time to help change the bed and bathroom linen of consumers in their home and replace with commercially laundered linen. The linen is then collected and returned to SCS and the Lane Cove hub. We require a volunteer every second and fourth Monday of each month, 8:30am to 10.30am-11am, approximately (dates may change depending on public holidays).
If you, or someone you know, is interested in any of the volunteer vacancies, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Yvonne Hughes, for more information and find out how you can get involved.
Please contact Yvonne on: P: 9427 6425 E: yhughes@sydneycs.org
Join us for a fun, interactive, all abilities one-hour African drumming event. Explore the rich tapestry of West African traditional instruments, songs and rhythms. Get ready for an uplifting vibe with everyone drumming in unison.
DATE: Monday 11 March 2024
TIME: 10.30am – 12.30pm
COST: Free Event
Numbers Limited Bookings Essential:
Sydney Community Services
P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
www.sydneycs.org
Join us for a delicious morning tea, and a variety concert with all your favourite tunes. There will be guest artists and a special solo performance! Sing, clap, and dance along…its all about “love” and celebrating positivity as we age!
DATE: Monday 18 March 2024
TIME: MORNING TEA: 10.30am
CONCERT: 11.00am -12noon
COST: $5 donation
VENUE: Sydney Community Services, Park View Room, 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove 3hrs free
Numbers Limited Bookings Essential:
Sydney Community Services
P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
www.sydneycs.org
Feel the rhythm, relive the vibes, and shimmy and shake to the beat of Elvis
DATE: Wednesday 13 March 2024
TIME: Concert 11.30am – 12.30pm
Numbers Limited
Bookings Essential:
Sydney Community Services
P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
www.sydneycs.org
Numbers Limited Bookings Essential:
Sydney Community Services
P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
DATE: Monday 25 March 2024
TIME:
www.sydneycs.org
Lane Cove Hub Activities
HEAD OFFICE
1 Pottery
Cove 9427 6425
Book Club
1.30pm - 2.30pm
Monday 18 March 2024
Cost: $5 including book/afternoon tea.
Movement Matters
Tuesday, 12pm - 1pm and 1.15pm - 2.15pm.
Wednesdays, 11.15am - 12.15pm.
Fridays, 10am - 11am. Contact us for further details and registration.
Come and join us for a fun morning of Mah Jong.
Tuesdays, 9.00 - 11.30am (spaces available)
Wednesdays, 1.00 - 3.45pm (currently full)
Cost: $5 including afternoon tea. All levels welcome.
Seniors Hub
If you are a family member or carer of someone living with dementia, take some time out knowing we are looking after your loved one.
46
8598 7051
All-day tailored seniors program from Monday to Friday. Includes excursions, picnics, and wellness activities. Door-to-door transport and nutritious meals catering for all dietary requirements.
Cost: $35 Contact us for a monthly program. E: support@sydneycs.org
Tuesdays and Thursdays
10am - 11am.
Meeting
23a
9003 1399
Return trip from your home to Lane Cove shops. We can also assist to carry your shopping into your home. Cost: $15
P: 9003 1399
E: jvenn@sydneycs.org
Afghan, Chinese, Iranian, Italian, and Spanish seniors groups.
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 to all CALD communities in the Greater Sydney area.
Contact us for a monthly program.
E: tliu@sydneycs.org
Senior Services
Seniors Social Bus Outings
Mondays and Wednesdays. We have some great outings planned for the month of March to a variety of destinations. Contact us for the full program.
P: 9003 1399
E: jvenn@sydneycs.org
Social Bridge / Solo / Rummikub
Thursdays, 10am - 12noon
Cost: $5 including afternoon tea .
Scrabble
Thursdays, 10am - 12noon
Cost: $5 including morning tea.
The Velveteens
2nd Monday each month 10am – 4pm.
Join us for morning tea before heading off to a different venue each month.
If you are over 65, registered with My Aged Care, have a referral code for Social Support Group and are totally independent then contact us for more information.
Cost: $20 (does not include lunch/beverages).
E: support@sydneycs.org
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.
Contact us for more details.
P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
HOURS OF OPERATION:
8.30am - 4.00pm I Monday - Friday
www.sydneycs.org
Join us every Thursday at Lane Cove Tennis Club, Central Park, Kenneth St, Longueville.
Cost $5. Every Thursday 9-11am
All players must register prior to playing – please call Julie 9427 6425. We look forward to seeing you on the court!
Fridays, 12.00 - 4.00pm
Cost: $5
Strength and balance exercise
Time: 9.45am - 10.45am
Contact us for more information about cost and term times.
E: ccampion@sydneycs.org
BOOMers for senior independently mobile men who enjoy an opportunity to socialise and visit interesting places in the company of other men.
Contact us for the full March program.
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
Mark your calendars for the events
Sydney Community Services is running during Seniors Week:
Monday 11 March
African Drumming Workshop
Wednesday 13 March
Shake, Rattle and Roll with Elvis Presley
Group community access activities from Mon – Fri in centres and community.
Activities: drama ensemble, creative movement, full and half-day excursions, Sailablity, art groups and virtual meetups.
Join us every Tuesday and visit a new destination.
Time: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $25 (Bus only)
E: hheggie@sydneycs.org
Cost: based on the NDIS pricing schedule. Individual support, including transport, daily living activities and community access available on request. gstarkey@sydneycs.org
PLAYGROUPS: 0-5 years, 9.30am-11.30am
TUESDAYS
Arts, Craft, Music and Story Playgroups
Supported by Early Ed fortnightly
THURSDAYS
TERM COSTS
Arts, Craft, Music and Story Playgroups
- $10 per casual visit
- $60
Monday 18 March
Lane Cove Choristers returns
Thursday 21 March
Musical Morning Tea at North Ryde School of Arts Hall
Monday 25 March
Celebrating Seniors Lunch
For more information on these events please see pages 29 and 41.
Thurs 11 April, 10am-12.30pm
See page 2 and page 11 for more information.
Starting Monday 8th April 2024
New Chess group - Mondays at 1pm
The group is friendly and sociable, and all abilities are welcome.
VENUE: The Meeting House, 23a Stokes Street, Lane Cove North
TIME : 1pm - 2.30pm
PLEASE CONTACT: P: 9427 6425
E: support@sydneycs.org
COST: $5 per session which includes afternoon tea
P: 9817 4757
E: lanecove@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Planning Reforms by the NSW State Labor government have rightly raised significant concerns within communities across the Sydney Metropolitan area. Councils in communities have rightly denounced the Minns Labor Government for its lack of detail and foresight with their sweeping planning policy.
Addressing the current housing crisis should be at the top of the priority list for all Governments.
The major issue is the lack of detail with respect to this new planning policy.
The people of NSW deserve more detail and have every right to be concerned about this announcement.
It is astonishing that we have Resident Associations using Google Maps to find the boundaries of these rezonings. These are crucial details that residents nearby and within these rezoned areas deserve to know and should not have to find out for themselves.
Any planning policy addressing greater density needs to consider maintaining the amenity and comfort that make our suburbs individual, unique and desirable.
Labor is also forgetting that ‘rezoning’ is only one piece of the puzzle. The Labor Government’s cuts to resultsdriven private training organisations, only make it harder to find quality trades people to build new homes. That, coupled with hyperinflated building costs, will present an even greater challenge to the housing sector in delivering more homes.
Building new homes in NSW require good planning, quality tradies and cost-effective materials. Labor seems to be making one door wider in terms of building new homes but closing all the others.
It is with great sadness that we saw the passing of Lawrie Sullivan. Lawrie Sullivan, a dear friend, and pillar of the Lane Cove Community spent his life contributing so much to our local community through his untiring work in Rotary and the Lane Cove Community Aid Service. Lawrie has left a legacy that will continue to assist and change peoples’ lives for the better. Lawrie was truly a man for others.
P: 9952 8222
E: mayor@ryde.nsw.gov.au
The City of Ryde is a proud supporter of International Women’s Day (IWD) and we’re holding a special IWD Forum on Saturday 9 March at North Ryde School of Arts addressing the theme ‘Count her in: invest in women, accelerate progress’.
This year's theme encourages us to acknowledge the pivotal role women play in shaping a better future and emphasises the importance of investing in their success.
Our keynote speakers are distinguished human rights and discrimination lawyer Prabha Nandagopol, and successful stage, theatre, and screen actor Karen Pang, with entertainment provided by The Voice Armenia winner Masha Mnjoyan.
A delicious morning tea will be prepared by female local caterer Gharibian House.
For more details and to book your seat, go to: www.ryde. nsw.gov.au/IWD
Council is also getting ready for its annual Seniors' Celebration this month, with a rich program of events recognising the valuable contribution seniors make to our community.
The program will consist of a wide variety of activities designed specifically for seniors, most of which are free. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn about local services, to try new experiences and to meet others within the community.
For more details, go to: www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/seniorsfestival
Another much-loved event on the City of Ryde calendar is Harmony Week, which celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity.
We acknowledge inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional custodians of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. For a proud multicultural area like Ryde, it’s an especially meaningful occasion.
As part of the celebrations, Council is running a series of free multicultural dance workshops on Friday 22 March from 4.00-7.00pm at the North Ryde School of Arts, where you can learn moves from China, Korea, Latin America, and India.
Registrations are required. For more details go to: www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/harmonyday
And, finally, I’m encouraging all our citizens to get involved in Clean Up Australia on Sunday 3 March. It’s the perfect opportunity to join with family, friends and neighbours to help remove the rubbish in your local park, bushland and waterways.
Individuals and groups can either organize a Clean Up site or volunteer to join an existing site.
To register your Clean Up site or join an existing group, go to: www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/fundraise/ccu
P: 9879 9400
E: mayor@huntershill.nsw.gov.au
The 2024 NSW Seniors Festival is around the corner, and we have an exciting range of events for our senior citizens, starting with our Music and Morning Tea at North Ryde on Thursday 21 March.
This free event will feature a morning of music and refreshments as well as an opportunity for seniors to come together, start new friendships and learn about activities and helpful local services from a wide range of interest groups and support service providers.
The event is organised by Hunter’s Hill, Ryde and Lane Cove Councils in collaboration with Stryder Community Transport, Sydney Community Services and Presbyterian Aged Care.
I would like to invite all seniors in our community to come and celebrate with us.
The event will be held in two sessions at the North Ryde School of Arts Hall, 201 Coxs Road, North Ryde. The first session begins at 9am and the second at 11.30am. Places are limited and registrations are required. They can be made with Sydney Community Services by email: support@sydneycs.org or by phone: (02) 9427 6425.
There is also transportation available upon request for attendees.
To read more about the event, visit Council’s website: www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/events.
The Seniors Festival celebrations continue with the Hunters Hill Croquet Club Open Day and sausage sizzle on Saturday March 23.
Connect with friends through an enjoyable game of croquet, hosted by the club, at 1 Matthew St, Hunters Hill. For more information go to: www.huntershillcroquet.org/events.
Sydney Community Services has a range of events taking place. From sports groups and social clubs to information sessions, there will be something that interests all seniors in our community.
Visit the Sydney Community Services website: www.sydneycs.org/whats-on for more information and to view the full list of activities.
We are also running a Seniors Community Road Safety workshop on Wednesday 20 March, from 10am to 1pm in the Hunters Hill Town Hall.
The free workshop will look at risk factors for older drivers, low-risk driving strategies, road rules and assessments and new car technology.
It will be an invaluable resource for seniors who want to enhance their road safety knowledge and skills. Registrations are required and can be made through our Road Safety Officers over the phone: 9911 3576 or via email: roadsafety@huntershill.nsw.gov.au.
The new year of parliamentary sittings is well and truly under way, with some big developments this month in taxation, workplace relations and on the climate front. Following relentless community advocacy, the Government has finally moved to introduce a binding New Vehicle Efficiency Standard by 1 January 2025. The standard will bring Australia in line with international markets, giving us a greater range of car models that use less fuel, and produce less noxious gases and carbon emissions. This is a win for the family budget, a win for the climate, and a win for our community, which has been lobbying for a strong fuel efficiency standard for some time.
I’ve continued to lobby for North Sydney’s priorities by asking for funding for our area in the 2024-25 Federal Budget. Based on conversations that my team and I have had with local councils, community groups and residents, I have asked the Government to fund the maintenance and improvement of local reserves and vantage points; invest in local research institutes and performing arts venues; and develop much-needed sporting facilities to meet demand as our population grows.
I have also pushed for more support for the programs and organisations that provide help to those who need it, including the Mary’s House domestic violence shelter and youth mentoring organisation Streetwork. And I’ve called more to be spent on cutting both Australia’s carbon emissions and household costs, for example through clean energy incentives and the Fuel Efficiency Standards that we’ve worked so hard to secure.
The Albanese Government’s proposed changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts have been hotly debated across the country and as always, my position has been shaped by your feedback. Ultimately, North Sydney supports the changes, with just over two-thirds, or 68%, of residents supporting the changes and 18% opposing them. The changes will mean that 7 out of 10 of North Sydney taxpayers will now receive an equal or bigger tax cut than they otherwise would have. At the same time, our electorate as a whole will ultimately receive $77 million less, because those who pay the highest taxes will receive less of a discount.
Understandably, many in our community feel let down by a government that promised as recently as December that the cuts would go ahead unchanged. I have raised these concerns in Parliament and will continue to demand more transparency and community consultation as we move forward.
I look forward to engaging with you further on these and other issues in the weeks to come.
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SOLD
• Pitched glass ceiling floods the sweeping living/dining zones with light
• Peaceful decks and heated pool ideal for alfresco entertaining
• Gour met kitchen flaunts stainless steel benchtops, eat-in stone island
• Gas and induction cooktop, double AEG ovens, butlers' pantry
Simon Harrison 0433 100 150 E: simon.harrison@belleproperty.com
Kim Walters 0499 014 886 E: kim.walters@belleproperty.com
• Light filled aspect, high ceilings and beautiful spotted gum floors
• Air conditioned living/dining through to deck area for entertaining
• Spacious moder n breakfast bar kitchen and a renovated full bathroom
• All bedrooms with built-in robes/fans plus ensuite to the master’
Michael Gallina 0402 320 265 E: michael.gallina@belleproperty.com
Cameron Brown 0438 594 708 E: cameron.brown@belleproperty.com
• Low maintenance new wraparound pool deck with additional private outdoor dining area for vibrant alfresco entertaining
• Peaceful courtyard oasis
• Pool and easy-care lawn afforded ample privacy by established gardens
• Rear of the home wrapped in glass and bi-fold doors for seamless integration of the outdoors
Patrick Lang 0434 990 307 E: patrick.lang@belleproperty.com
Monica Carollo 0491 001 539 E: monica.carollo@belleproperty.com
• Bright contemporary layout opens to resort-like environment outdoors
• Established level lawns/gardens, superb deck/in-ground pool
• For mal lounge and dining, open plan living/meals and upstairs retreat
• Island kitchen, full main bathroom/master ensuite are all new
Patrick Lang 0434 990 307 E: patrick.lang@belleproperty.com
Monica Carollo 0491 001 539 E: monica.carollo@belleproperty.com
Belle Property Hunters Hill 3/52-56 Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill 9817 7729
Belle Property Lane Cove 162 Longueville Road, Lane Cove 9087 3333
37 Makinson Street, Gladesville 4 bed 2 bath 1 car
4 Gay Street, Lane Cove 4 bed 2 bath 2 car
20 Garling Street, Lane Cove 5 bed 3 bath 2 car
