10 minute read
Travel
Riverside Walk, San Antonio
Wide-eyed in the U.S. of A.
Last month, the pleasure was all mine when I got to revisit Texas for 10 days. Yes, I’ve been there before … but not post-Trump. Advertorial by Adrienne Witteman of Trendsetter Travel and Cruise Centre.
Texas certainly makes an interesting visit if you follow American politics and sociology – and it's easily accessed since QF flies direct to Dallas or Air New Zealand to Houston via Auckland. Landing in the geographical heart of the US offers an altogether marked contrast to the bright city lights of New York or the Hollywood glamour and chic beach vibe of California. Texas is big. And getting bigger. Four of the 12 most populous US cities are in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin. They’re among the fastest growing too – they attract young people to careers in business services, education and health, manufacturing, energy and more. As a consequence, the political outlook is changing and Texas is predicted to be more blue than red in the 2020 election. As a holiday destination – I love it. My only exposure to Texas, before visiting six years ago was via the TV drama Dallas, and the shenanigans of the filthy-rich Ewing family. And yes, you will see moustachioed Texans in big hats, boots, and fancy belts with equally fancy buckles – just like I saw on TV way back then, in authentic Mexican restaurants when visiting. These Texans live and work on ranches – vast expanses not unlike New Zealand sheep and Australian cattle stations. Most Texans you meet will be like you and I, albeit with slight differences. Gun ownership is around 35% with 19% of urban dwellers owning a gun. This makes Texas 18th for gun ownership out of 52 states. Should you find this a disincentive to visiting Texas, bear in mind that Alaskans have more guns per capita than any other US state. And Australians love Alaska.
Texans are also quite religious with 64% Evangelical Protestant and 21% Catholic. About 38% of the Texan population are of Hispanic/Latino descent. It all makes for a fascinating experience.
In Dallas and Houston, you get the big city stuff. Dallas, you’ll recall, is where JFK met his untimely death and a visit to The Texas School Book Depository, from where he was reportedly assassinated, is one of the must-do activities although mystery surrounds the event. The Dallas Museum of Art is highly rated yet art in Dallas is not confined indoors. Among the most beloved street art is a bronze bench seat you can share with a statue of Rosa Parkes who in 1955 refused to give up her bus seat to a white person. I’ve sat there myself.
San Antonio Cathedral light show.
The famous line ‘Houston, we have a problem’ was actually ‘Houston we’ve had a problem here’ but altered for Hollywood. You may not know that NASA Mission Control is actually in Houston and consequently, the Space Centre is on every Houston visitor’s list. Museum aficionados will enjoy the Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts so all tastes are catered for. The best discovery this trip was San Antonio and the charms of its famous Riverside Walk, The Alamo and the revitalised Pearl Neighbourhood. The Riverside Walk is fabulous testament to the forethought of Mr Robert Hugman, who in 1929 had a vision to make this a beautiful waterway central to the city. It worked. You can stroll for two miles along verdant, sweet-scented pathways that bisect the heart of San Antonio. Or cruise and soak up the fascinating commentary. A Google search on the Pearl district will entice you to visit, and stay as we did at the excellent Emma Hotel (privileges via Trendsetter Travel’s Virtuoso affiliation). Finally, you must not miss Austin, home to the LBJ Presidential Library within the University of Texas, and to thousands of students and an exciting music scene that spills out onto the streets most nights. What else might you expect from a city with the slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird’? Don’t be put off – it’s more funky than weird, and I loved it! Texas has great food be it big barbecues or spicy Mexican – and lots of avocado. It has wide open spaces, expansive sunsets and people are genuinely welcoming. If you’re looking to find real America, let my team help you book and create a trip you’ll remember forever.
Lane Cove Shopping Plaza and 3 Northwood Road, Longueville Phone: (02) 9428 5900
www.trendsettertravel.com.au
Councillor Pam Palmer, Mayor of Lane Cove
AUGUST 2019
Council is currently seeking feedback on its new strategy to improve your experience when dealing with Council. As you can imagine, every day Council receives many requests from residents wanting to access a whole range of available services. It may be a tree permit, a missed rubbish collection or to report a damaged footpath. By understanding each person’s experience, Council hopes to provide simplified and faster services to the community. The aim is to not only improve customer service but also the way in which that service is delivered and the way in which Council communicates with you while it solves the problem. We are looking for you to be engaged in the project by providing your feedback on our new “Customer Experience Strategy”. The General Manager, myself and the Deputy Mayor met recently with a representative from Office of the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to discuss the most pressing planning issues facing the Lane Cove community. Topics covered included future development in St Leonards South, the 2036 Plan for St Leonards / Crows Nest, the moratorium on residential planning proposals and Planning Proposal No.27 (rezoning of Girraween Park). We also discussed issues to do with the appointment of Private Certifiers and progress on the St Leonards over-rail plaza. I also have regular meetings with our State member, Anthony Roberts MP, to keep up to date with local issues in order to better serve the community. Our last meeting included the Mayors of Hunters Hill and Ryde with whom we naturally share some common concerns for the region. As always, I look forward to representing your concerns in such forums. You can contact me on 9911 3541 or mayor@lanecove.nsw.gov.au.
Local News & Information
NAIDOC Week
The Animals of the Dreaming: Taronga Zoomobile visit on Saturday 5 July gave dozens of local children the chance to meet native animals and hear stories of the Dreamtime as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations.
2066 Litter Challenge
The 2066 Litter Challenge proved a great success with 2,131 pieces of litter collected by mid-July, with more being added to the tally each day. Our Community Clean Up on 8 July had a fantastic turn out - thanks to all who participated in the challenge!
New Tree Sculpture
A new tree sculpture at Central Park will soon be open to the public. The sculpture has been created from a large Angophora Tree, or Sydney Red Gum, removed from the park for public safety in early 2019.
Draft 2019 Bicycle Plan
Council is seeking the community’s views on the Draft 2019 Bicycle Plan. The Plan provides a framework for Council to develop a connected bicycle network.
Out & About in Lane Cove
Youth Camp
Lane Cove’s Synergy Youth Centre is returning to Nura Gunyu Camp in the Ulladulla region from 8-11 October. Activities include carving, art, bushwalking, music and more. Bookings open in early August for children aged 11-16 years. Enquiries at youth@ lanecove.nsw.gov.au.
Lane Cove Festival
The Lane Cove Festival is almost here! The annual festival runs throughout September with this year’s launch event to be held in the Plaza on Friday 30 August. For a full program of events, visit Council’s website.
Pay Online
People visiting Market Square Car Park now have the option to pay for parking via Council’s online portal. If your visit is more than three hours and you forget to pay on exit, you have three days to pay at www. lanecoveparking.com.au. Parking is free for your first three hours.
Teaching Your Learner Driver
Learn all the simple steps on how to teach a learner driver at a free two hour workshop on Wednesday 21 August at 6:30pm at the Library. For enquiries, contact Council’s Road Safety Officer on 9911 3576. Next time you visit Council’s Civic Centre reception or Library loan counter, take a moment to tell us about your experience at the customer feedback kiosks (pictured below).
Latest Works
• The design of Lane Cove Aquatic
Centre’s exciting new grandstand has been approved! Construction of the new 50m outdoor pool has begun. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2020. • Construction of The Canopy on
Rosenthal Avenue continues this month. A tower crane was removed from the site in late
July requiring one lane to be closed over two days, with traffic management in place.
Construction of a new roundabout is expected to begin in mid-August.
What’s On:
Lane Cove
AUGUST
PLAZA EVENTS
Saturday Sounds - Ace Avenue: Saturday 10 August, 10:00am - 12:00pm. Enjoy free live music by Ace Avenue. Lane Cove Festival Launch - Plaza Party: Friday 30 August, 3:30pm - 6:00pm. Celebrate the launch of the 2019 Lane Cove Festival with live music, creative workshops and kids activities. Members from the local Malayali community will also create a stunning floral carpet called a ‘pookkalam’.
LANE COVE LIBRARY
All events are free. Visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/library or call 9911 3634 to book.
National Science Week Paper Craft: Tuesday 13 August, 3:30pm - 4:30pm. Celebrate National Science Week by creating some science-based papercrafts, including tumble wings, tangrams, and optical illusions. Author Talk: Accidental Aid Worker by Sue Liu: Thursday 15 August, 6:15pm - 7:30pm. Accidental Aid Worker is the travel memoir of the adventurous Sue Liu who stumbles into voluntary aid work in the wake of the 2004 tsunami during the civil war conflict in Sri Lanka.
Crafternoon Tea: Tuesday 20 August, 2:00pm - 3:30pm, Greenwich Library. Enjoy afternoon tea while working on your latest craft project. No booking required. History Talk: The War in Afghanistan: Tuesday 20 August, 6:15pm - 8:00pm. Hear Brigadier Bridie discuss the role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Australia joined this United Nations led mission following the September 2001 attacks in the United States. Children’s Book Week Presentation Night: Wednesday 21 August, 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Join us for a special evening storytime and readers theatre to celebrate Children’s Book Week. Enjoy a presentation of our Book Week competition winners.
Homegrown Crime Writers: Thursday 22 August, 6:00pm. Hear from Nicola Moriarty, Wendy James and Catherine du Peloux Menage in the lead up to the Sydney BAD Crime Writers Festival. Movie - Stan and Ollie (2018): Tuesday 27 August, 2:00pm - 4:30pm. The true story of Hollywood’s greatest comedy double act, Laurel and Hardy, is brought to the big screen for the first time, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly.
Thursday Tunes - A Celebration of the Musical: Thursday 29 August, 10:15am - 12:00pm. Graham Ball presents the mainstream musical stages of the western world from the world of Jacques Offenbach in the18th century until the present day. Writers in Residence: Thursday 29 August, 6:00pm - 7:30pm. A group for writers, who meet monthly to share stories, discuss ideas & writing methods. No booking required.
BUSH CARE
Living with Brush Turkeys: Thursday 15 August, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Cove Room, Council Civic Centre. Join expert, Dr. Ann Goeth, author of Mound Builders, for a closer look at the unique life of the Australian Brush Turkey. Book online: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcareevents
ROAD SAFETY
Teaching Your Learner Driver: Wednesday 21 August, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Lane Cove Library. Teaching someone to drive can be a happy experience. Learn simple steps to teach a learner driver at a free two hour workshop. Call Council’s Road Safety Officer on 9911 3576 to book.
COMMUNITY
Healthy Living Workshop - Food And Your Mood:
Wednesday 28 August, 10:30am - 11:30am, Lane Cove Library. Learn how emotions and thoughts affect our food choices, how diets and nutritional deficiences affect our brain and learn about the connection between a balanced diet and mental health. Call 9911 3591 to book.
Dancing At The Diddy: Wednesday 14 and 28 August, 7:30pm - 10:30pm, Longueville Sporting Club. Open to all age groups, you can now enjoy and dance to a live duo rocking the music of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. $10 paid entry at the door.
For more details on these events visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au or call Lane Cove Council on 9911 3555.
