15th March 2025. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
The Trust's 60th Anniversary High Tea, The Beecroft Orchestra,
Clean Up Australia, Beecroft Bush Dance,
Cheltenham walking track Upgrade,
Wongala Crescent Construction, STEP activities,
Local JP, Julian Leeser Newsletter, Hornsby Council Newsletter,
Parramatta Council Newsletter, Recent Development Applications.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Saturday April 5Afternoon Bush Dance. Beecroft Community Centre.
Sunday April 6BCCT 60th Anniversary High Tea. Cheltenham Recreation Club.
Sunday April 13 Beecroft Orchestra. Cheltenham Girls High School.
Message from the President Dear fellow residents,
The last month has been a particularly busy time for me and to a lesser extent for the Civic Trust.
We have been planning to hold our Annual General Meeting in conjunction
with the Meet the Candidates Meeting for the Federal Electorate of
Berowra. However because the Federal election is now happening in May
all of these arrangements have been postponed pending further advice
from the Prime Minister as to the date of the election.
At the AGM, if held in March, I would not have stood for re-election to
the Committee because my three year term as President (the maximum
period under the Constitution) would have expired. However, as Louise
and I have sold our home in Beecroft and bought elsewhere we will be
moving by the first week of April. I believe that to commit
yourself to the role of Trust President you should live in Beecroft or
Cheltenham, this means that the AGM will be happening some weeks after I
have ceased to be your fellow resident. Because of this delay I will
instead be resigning from the Presidency (and the Committee) at the
March Committee meeting. This unfortunately will mean that the current
Committee will be electing a new President for a matter of weeks prior
to elections being held with the members, as a whole, at the AGM.
Louise and I have lived together in Beecroft for over two decades and
Louise has lived in Beecroft (with her family) for over a decade back in
the 1960s and early 1970s. This is a long connection and we are sad to
go. As we plan for the next stage of our lives a smaller home closer to
the City and airport will have decided advantages for us. For many years
we lived in the Inner West and so it is logical for us to return there.
This doesn’t mean that we won’t miss the many friends we have made here
and the strong community atmosphere that we have enjoyed. Working
together as a village community has been a unique feature of what we
have enjoyed. Whether this might be at our church, The Garden Club, the
Beecroft Forum, the History Group or the Civic Trust and not least our
street gatherings to catch up with neighbours. It has also included
events held by Rotary, the Beecroft Orchestra and sporting clubs. All of
which enriched our lives and has given us the opportunity to contribute
to the lives of others.
Having said that, despite being in the throes of moving, I have
committed to the Civic Trust that I will participate in its 60th
Anniversary High Tea at the Cheltenham Recreation Club. Details and how
to book appear elsewhere in this eNews and I hope to see as many people
as possible there and have the chance to celebrate our communities, and
to think about community activism and perhaps even for Louise and I to
say goodbye. Please come if you can.
A growing number of people have realised what a treasure we have in the
Beecroft Orchestra and their next performance is particularly focused on
children. With all of the kids in our parks, schools, and playgrounds
this seems a praiseworthy target audience and I look forward to the
enthusiasm, excitement, and perhaps a little chaos, that this will
entail. Again look for the details of this fabulous event elsewhere in
this eNews.
I mentioned our Garden Club and was very pleased that at its Autumn
garden ramble for members the rain, which has soaked our gardens of
late, held off for a lovely afternoon and gentle perambulation amongst
two lovely gardens – and then also my own! If it wasn’t bad enough
to spruce my house up to the high standards of our selling agents I had
to turn around a week later and make the garden look its best – no pun
intended. I dutifully swept paths the night before only for our guard
dog to be asleep on the job and find the next morning the vigorous
onslaught of a veritable army of Brush Turkeys. Our garden club is just
so active and gives so much back to its members (and the broader
community) that it is just amazing. Later in the year it will be
celebrating its 75th anniversary – even a longer history than the Civic
Trust!
Please continue to join in striving to live life to the full while
keeping our villages thriving, special, and delightful places.
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust 60th Anniversary High Tea The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust (BCCT) was established in 1964 and is celebrating its 60 years of service to our community.
We are delighted to invite you to join us for HIGH TEA at the Cheltenham
Recreation Club, 60-74 The Crescent, Cheltenham 2119 on Sunday 6
April 2025 from 2.30-4.30pm.
The guest speakers for the afternoon will be Sandra & Graham Ross of
The Garden Clinic Radio Program, Better Homes & Gardens TV Program
and Ross Garden Tours.
Sandra Ross
is an Australian horticulturist, garden educator, and co-founder of
Ross Garden Tours alongside her husband, Graham Ross. Originally a
radiographer, Sandra transitioned into horticulture, and became a
passionate advocate for gardening. Sandra plays a key role in The Garden
Clinic, where she teaches gardening classes, leads garden tours, and
provides expert advice. Sandra is also known for her involvement in The
Garden Clinic Radio Show, which she and her husband, Graham Ross, have
hosted on Sydney’s 2GB Radio since 1980. Sandra is particularly fond of
roses, favouring traditional varieties, and enjoys spending time in her
rose garden, and with her grandchildren.
Graham Ross
AM is a television and radio presenter, author, and educator. Graham’s
career in horticulture spans over 55 years, making him one of the most
recognized figures in gardening media in Australia. With the boundless
enthusiasm of a summer choko vine in full flight, Graham rarely rests. A
gardener since the age of 4, Graham started sharing his know-how early
on, and has never stopped. Whether he’s talking just to you, a garden
club for 40, to 1.1million viewers on Better Homes and Gardens TV, or
his 550,00 loyal listeners on his radio program, it’s always the same
Graham Ross: the same smile, the same RM boots and the same dependable
advice. Graham is the founder of Australia’s largest garden club, The
Garden Clinic Club, as well as the world’s leading specialist garden
tour company, Ross Garden Tours. The Garden Clinic has been running for
more than 40 years on 2GB, as Graham and Sandra share their extensive
gardening knowledge and practical know-how, great tips, interviews, and
news from the world of gardening. For catering purposes, please reply YES to anniversary@bcct2119.com.au by 31 March 2025.
The cost is $40 per person. Pay by EFT (remember to include your
name and number of attendees) to: Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust Inc:
BSB 062 113 Account number 1006 8238
Payment is due by 31 March 2025.
We look forward to celebrating this important occasion with you at our High Tea.
Kind regards,
Rod Best PSM President BCCT
The Beecroft Orchestra Extra-Special Kids Concert
Here is something exciting and different. Beecroft
Orchestra’s 13 April 2025 Children's Concert in the CGHS Performance
Hall is in collaboration with The Vegetable Plot and with school
musicians from Eastwood and Denistone East Public Schools. Easy parking
and afternoon tea with admission. All ages welcome, so come with your
whole family. Booking is easy CLICK HERE
Clean Up Australia 2025 A huge thank you to all those who volunteered for Clean Up Australia in 2025.
Many bags of rubbish were collected. We had support from many residents plus the local Scouts and Rotary.
Cheltenham Walking Track Upgrade The Trust has responded to Hornsby Shire Council on the Walking Track Upgrade Castle Howard Road Track to Lyne Road Reserve, Cheltenham Upgrade. CLICK HERE to read the Trust's submission.
Some
interesting results of the latest survey conducted by Greater Sydney
Local Land Services about Bushcare and Landcare activities for the
2023-2024 period.
Here's a quick snapshot of some of the impressive results:
932 active Landcare and Bushcare groups
7,230 regular volunteers
209,793 hours of labour volunteered valued at $8.8 million
765,000 plants propagated across 25 community nurseries
The
report provides detail relating to landcare and bushcare activities,
group wellbeing, support accessed, and contributions made to the broader
community.
Read the survey report here: The State of Bushcare and Landcare - Local Land Services
Construction for the New Residential and Commercial Development at Wongala Crescent Continues
STEP activities in March CLICK HERE for the STEP March newsletter
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.
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. Penelope can be contacted on 0449 232 474.
Civic Trust Facebook page
The Trust’s Facebook Page has every now and then interviews with interesting people in 2119.
The latest of these is an interview with Michael Bianchino, a name synonymous with the protection of The Powerful Owl. CLICK HERE
Julian Leeser MP. Newsletter dated March 2025 The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's March News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's March 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
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 will assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
