13th January 2024. Edition One. In this edition: President's Report,
BCCT eNews,
Early Beecroft,
Ken the cobbler,
Clean Up Australia,
Beecroft Bush Dance,
Bushcare Volunteers,
Probus Club,
Your Civic Trust,
Local JP,
Julian Leeser MP Newsletter,
Hornsby Council Have your say,
Hornsby Council News Bulletin,
City of Parramatta News Bulletin,
Recent Development Applications,
Police Reports are back.
Message from the President Happy New Year to all.
As part of the summer articles in the Sydney Morning Herald, there has
been a series of articles titled Heritage v Housing” which apparently
seeks to promote the idea that heritage classification is contrary to
the promotion affordable housing and increase of housing stock. I have
previously noted that much of Beecroft and Cheltenham is within a
Heritage Conservation Area (with a much smaller number of properties
having an individual listing) and so the arguments being advanced in
these articles is of relevance to us. The Civic Trust is obliged by its
Constitution and inclination to preserve the village atmosphere of our
two suburbs. We have never interpreted this to mean opposition to any
change. Our history shows that we achieved major changes to the location
of the M2, the set backs and amenities of unit blocks along Chapman
Avenue and the design of Beecroft Market Place amongst other things. We
will continue to argue for good planning that enhances the lives of all
who live within postcode 2119. This does not seem to me to be
inconsistent with some measure of increased housing.
In my last report, I set out the announcement by Hornsby Shire Council
to remove some magnificent street trees near 28 to 30 Malton Road. To
summarise, Council has been working to preserve these trees since 2015
but has now received an arborist’s report that they need to be removed.
Since that report, the Shire Council invited a few residents to meet
with the arborist, Scott Hannell, to discuss the situation. The Civic
Trust was represented at this meeting by its Vice President (and former
President) Ross Walker. The Civic Trust has no reason to question the
arborist’s report and therefore accepts that the trees will need to be
removed. The arborist's report and further information can be viewed on
the Council's web site. CLICK HERE.
What we have discussed with the Shire Council is the replacement of
these trees in this location and further along Malton Road. The loss of
tree canopy is a significant issue for us – not just for wildlife, the
preservation of our bushland environment but also our own contribution
to managing climate change. Can you please consider not just caring for
new tree plantings by Council but also doing what you can in growing
tall timbers where this might be possible on your own properties.
Before Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending the summer concert of
the Beecroft Orchestra. What a pleasure that was. The standard of
performance was very exciting. The support of Cheltenham Girls High
School in making its performance hall available is to be commended.
It was also good on leaving the performance to see one of the many
Christmas street parties in our suburbs. Neighbours gathering in their
own streets, in local churches or with Rotary are fun ways that we can
come together as a community and take pleasure in each other’s company.
One activity in which I assisted over the Christmas period, was the
preparation of a holiday quiz by the local History Group. With just 20
multiple choice questions on the History Group web site it’s a great
activity to work on if you or your family have some summer time
available. CLICK HERE for the Quiz.
Finally, I note that another shop will shortly be closing as part of the
Wongala Crescent development. Harvest Specialty Coffee I have been told
is closing at the end of this month. Over the few years that they have
been open they have provided a great service to our community –
especially over the Covid lock down period. Thanks to all the staff who
have put up with me!
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust eNews The
Trust publishes this monthly eNews newsletter. If you would like
to receive this newsletter on a regular basis, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to the eNews.
Beecroft in the 50s and 60s The
trust has been granted permission to publish a collection of
photographs from the 50s and 60s. We will be publishing all of
these in our eNews over the coming months. Here are the first
two. The photographer was the late Ted Richards a former Beecroft
resident and founder of the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust. Ted
also served as the Trust's President for many years.
Beecroft Station late 1960s
Beecroft Road looking South across Hannah Street
The Beecroft Cobbler
Ken, the Beecroft Cobbler is a truly remarkable man with an equally
remarkable moving story. Because Ken is in his shop seven days a
week, he has become part of the fabric of The Village Arcade.
Apart from a few Sundays off after his stay in hospital, Ken did take a
holiday in 2023, He had one day off in the middle of July!
In 1981 while still a student in Vietnam, Ken left home. Because
he was about to embark on an extremely risky voyage on an overcrowded 12
metre boat with 120 passengers on board, Ken chose to leave his wife
and seven month old baby daughter in the relative safety of his family
in Vietnam. Ken was seeking to secure a better life for himself
and his family in Australia.
The first leg of the voyage took him to Indonesia, a four day journey
not without peril. A seven year old little girl succumbed to the
hazards of the journey and was found drowned in the bilge of the
boat. This memory continues to haunt Ken.
Ken spent two years in an Indonesian detention camp before being granted
refugee status by the Australian Government. Ken said “I
celebrate the anniversary of my arrival in Australia as my second
birthday”. Ken spent most of his time while in an Australian
immigration centre in the library learning English from the available
books.
When Ken was finally released from detention, he had no money, no work
references or work experience and poor English. Ken somehow made
his way to Randwick Technical College and applied to learn a trade or to
acquire some work skills. He told the admitting officer “My
English not good, I need to learn a job for my hands not my
brain”. A few days later Ken was learning to be a shoemaker.
After 8 years Ken had earned and saved enough to be able to sponsor his
family and was finally reunited with his wife and daughter. Ken is
now the proud father of two daughters.
When asked what he liked about Beecroft, Ken replied “Everybody in
Beecroft is very friendly, The people in Beecroft is to me like my
family”.
Clean Up Australia 2023 The Civic Trust has once again registered
the Beecroft Village Green as a community site for the 2024 Clean Up
Australia campaign. Put in your diary Sunday 3rd March, from 9am to 12 Noon.
Roslyn Phillips, Bill Woods, Sheila Woods, Warren Duff, Geoff Weller
Beecroft Bush Dance Saturday 3rd February
To our Bushcare Volunteers,
Hornsby Shire Council would like to thank you for volunteering for a better environment for 2023.
Below is a quick summary of our achievements:
New Arrivals
Sandra Shergill – Bushcare Trainer
Kelly Bollinger – Community Nursery Coordinator
Bushcare annual hours: 7162 hours
Volunteer numbers: 294 active bushcare volunteers
Number of new volunteers: 24
Nursery annual hours: 3061 hours
Volunteer numbers: 47
Number of plants produced: 31,669
Number of plants distributed: 33,023
New Bushcare Groups
Jane Starkey Bushcare Group, a collaboration with NPWS
Wisemans Bushcare Group
Leanne Johnston
Environmental Scientist - Bushcare | Natural Resources | Hornsby Shire Council
p 02 9847 6362 | f 02 9484 3588
e ljohnston@hornsby.nsw.gov.au | w hornsby.nsw.gov.au | f facebook.com/HornsbyCouncil
Council acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands of Hornsby Shire, the Darug and Guringai people.
Beecroft Probus Club Beecroft
Probus was established over 40 years ago in 1981 and like Beecroft West
and Beecroft Mixed, we are all part of the Probus South Pacific
organisation.
While we are a men’s club designed to build camaraderie through shared
experience, partners are always encouraged to attend meetings and
events.
We meet monthly every fourth Monday morning at the Cheltenham Recreation
Club and always have a guest speaker with an interesting topic. .
We focus on fellowship and expanding our knowledge; free from the
constraints of politics, religion, fundraising and competition.
To access the website CLICK HERE
Alternatively contact the secretary Ross Walker on 0412 257 556 for more information.
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust If
you value your Trust and appreciate the work the Trust does to preserve
the amenity and heritage of our two suburbs, please consider renewing
your financial membership.
This can be done on-line at https://bcct2119.com.au/membership.htm Without your valued support, the Trust will cease to exist.
The Trust has for many years fought and lobbied to protect our suburbs.
Local Justice of the Peace Timothy
Abrams, a Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust committee member, has
generously offered his services as a Justice of the Peace for any
residents requiring this service.
Tim can be contacted on Mob 0417 662 405
Dr. Penelope Crossley has also generously offered her services.
Penelope is a practising solicitor and is happy to witness documents pro
bono for 2119 residents if Tim is unavailable. Penelope can be
contacted on 0449 232 474.
Julian Leeser MP. January 2024 Newsletter The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's "Have Your Say" Can be viewed CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's January News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's January News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
Recent Development Applications The
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust's Web Site now has links to recently
submitted Development Applications in the 2119 postcode area for both
Hornsby and Parramatta Shire Councils. This page will be updated
with every eNews publication. CLICK HERE to access them.
Other objections and correspondence with council can be viewed CLICK HERE
Latest Police Reports CLICK HERE
for the latest reports. Just a reminder that these reports are
regularly provided by the Ryde Police Area Command which includes the
entire suburbs of Beecroft & Cheltenham.
Annual Memberships for 2024 will once again become due in March... CLICK HERE
Keep our two suburbs strong and informed by being a member!
To support or join the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust, please visit our website. CLICK HERE.The
eNews has become our main method for disseminating information to the
community. We already send the eNews to many of our residents. We
encourage residents who receive the eNews to tell their neighbours and
friends and suggest they too subscribe. The eNews letter is
available to all who subscribe. Trust Membership is not a
requirement.
The eNews archives are available HERE. To subscribe to the eNews: CLICK HERE.
There is an active Civic Trust Facebook group, to view the Facebook CLICK HERE.
The Trust has always sought to assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
