18th May 2024. Edition One. In this edition: President's Report, Trust Membership, Trust's reponse to HSC,
BCCT eNews, Survey, Art Show, ANZAC Day 2024, Autumn Walk,
Early Beecroft, The Beecroft Orchestra, Local JP,
Hornsby Council News Bulletin, City of Parramatta News Bulletin,
Recent Development Applications.
Message from the President Dear fellow residents,
Following the Annual Meeting of the Civic Trust, the Committee has met
and elected members of the Committee to the various positions in the
Civic Trust for 2024 and into 2025 as follows:
President
Roderick Best
Vice
Presidents
Ross Walker and Bill Rankine
Treasurer
Nina Mital
Secretary
Tim Abrams
IT co-ordinator and eNews Brian Shirley
Committee members Janet Hayes, Gail Crossley, Glynn Rogers,
Michael McAuley.
This is also the Civic Trust’s 60th
year and so the Committee is planning an event to celebrate this
milestone. Both our Civic Trust and the Paddington Society were formed
in the same year and so both rank amongst the oldest community societies
in the State.
At our Annual Meeting, we were pleased to have present our State Member,
Mr Perrottet, the Hornsby Shire Mayor, Phillip Ruddock and a large
number of Hornsby Shire Councillors. While part of Beecroft falls within
Parramatta City Council we did not have any of the Parramatta
Councillors in attendance but hope to have them at the next Annual
Meeting. This is also a year for local government elections and so
candidates for both councils will be invited to our Meet the Candidates
event later in the year.
Hornsby Council is seeking comment on its draft capital works program. I
encourage you to send your comments to the Council. The Civic Trust has
noted that little new money has been spent on our suburbs and that we
need enhancements to the retail area and refurbishment of play equipment
in Fearnley Park, Lyne Street Park and the Railway Reserve playground.
The Hornsby Shire Council website also includes a proposed Cultural plan
for the Shire. It too is almost devoid of specific reference to our
suburbs. An artist in residence program at Ahimsa or pop-up
cultural activities in our suburbs seem to be within the parameters of
this plan. What ideas would you like to see the Civic Trust advocate for
the Hornsby Shire Cultural plan?
Rod Best and Julian Leeser The
Civic Trust does not often deal with Federal issues but I met with
Julian Leeser early in May to discuss the Civic Trust’s position in the
housing construction push being promoted by the Federal Government with
proposals being initiated by the State Government. While the State
Government is starting to talk about more nuanced approaches, I said
that the Civic Trust was concerned at early comments implying intensive
development at all costs, even overriding safety and liveability
concerns. For example, will the intensive development be able to ignore
bush fire protections? Will it happen on a block by block basis so that
residents do not have the benefit of larger scale planning? How do
features that encourage improved living conditions compete with an
imperative for more housing? Examples are: where do children play; how
do we reflect cultural and heritage parts of our lives; where do
children go to schools that are not overflowing; or motorists join roads
that are already blocked creating intrusive noise? These issues exist,
not only for high rise development but also for other forms of intensive
development like dual occupancy and subdivision. We do not disagree
with the need for greater housing across Australia but Mr Leeser did
agree to think further about how this demand might be met without
creating problems for future generations.
Mr Leeser also asked about what the big issues were for the Civic Trust.
I said that the biggest was the unbearable noise from the M2 suffered
by residents in nearby streets. The Civic Trust holds recorded noise
measurements that show that this isn’t a Nimbyist issue but more about
apparent breaches of standards for road noise levels. While we have not
had the courtesy of a reply from Transurban in response to our request
for details about their project to resurface the motorway, I noted the
Civic Trust’s hope that this will, in fact, result in reducing noise at
least for a period of time.
Elsewhere within this e-news you will find information about an art
exhibition to be held at The Verandah. It sounds most interesting.
On 15th May, the National Library is launching a revised
edition of Margaret Tucker’s memoirs. This edition will, according to
the Library, publish her words rather than what a publisher thought we
wanted to hear. Margaret Tucker MBE was a member of the Stolen
Generation who was placed with a family in Cheltenham. To say that she
had a difficult childhood is an understatement. A summary of her story
can be read on the History Group web site CLICK HERE and scroll to the end of the page.
I fly to the United States on the same day as the book launch. I am
going to unveil an Australian plaque in the cemetery where Jacob Nagle
is buried, Jacob Nagle was an American who had fought in the American
War of Independence, and he was later a sailor aboard the First Fleet to
Australia.
Did you know that there were 15 people born in what is now the United
States who were on the First Fleet? Two of the Afro Americans on the
First Fleet settled near present day James Ruse High School and the
daughter of one of them Mary Martin, lived in what is now Beecroft. Her
story is also on the History Group web site CLICK HERE.
I hope that I am greeted with some warmer and drier weather in the
States than I am encountering here. I would like when I return, to once
more complain about how dry my garden is!!
In preparing for my flight, Louise very kindly called into the Rotary
Bookshop and selected some who-dun-its for my travels. She has
almost read most of them and so will be able to hand them over to me.
When you walk up Hannah Street to reach the bookshop you may have heard
that some anti-social person stole a number of the potted camellias. A
number of people very kindly donated money to the Civic Trust to replace
the camellias. As well, Paradise Garden Nursery very kindly donated
some replacement camellias and so the donated funds will be used for any
future planter box needs and support for the plantings in our community
planter boxes including fertiliser, potting mix and other useful
supplements.
Replacement Camelias ready to be planted in the planter boxes
Finally, Mount St Benedict College very kindly allowed access to a small
group of residents to satisfy themselves that evidence of the Great
North Road, one of the largest infrastructure projects of the 1800s, is
still evident in Blackwood Reserve on the corner of Beecroft and Pennant
Hills Roads. The College had reported that they did not believe
that any of the road had survived.
I am pleased to say that a small remnant is clearly still evident and we
will now work with the school and the National Trust to ensure that
Bushcare activities help to further preserve this remnant. Beecroft is
the only Sydney suburb retaining a remnant of this mighty work. As it
took many years of effort by the Civic Trust and History Group to reach
this outcome, I am feeling particularly chuffed on behalf of these two
groups.
That seems to be the right “high point” to conclude this letter to you. Enjoy the rest of the eNews.
Civic Trust Membership Requires Urgent Attention.
The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has a pleasingly strong eNews subscription and membership.
However the fully paid subscriptions for 2024 has fallen dramatically and alarmingly. Please help in keeping our two suburbs strong and informed by submitting the $20.00 membership fee.
Details can be found at CLICK HERE
The ongoing M2 Noise Issue The Trust has received correspondence from Transport for NSW on the M2 noise issue.
The Trust committee has not yet commented on the letter's contents and will do so shortly.
AED for Beecroft Village The Rotary Club of Beecroft has been able to procure an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) from "Heart of The Nation"
which will be installed on the wall outside Beecroft Physiotherapy at 9
Wongala Crescent. For more information visit the Rotary Facebook page.
Civic Trust's Response to Hornsby Shire Councils
'Delivery Program and Operational Plan' CLICK HERE to read the Trust's response.
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.
BCCT Ahimsa Survey Ahimsa is the former home of Marie Byles one of this district's most significant residents.
Do you agree with the idea of the Council assisting with an ‘artist in residence’ at Ahimsa in Cheltenham? CLICK HERE to vote YESCLICK HERE to vote NO
Art Show at The Verandah Beecroft - Tuesday May 21 The Verandah is excited to announce this inaugural art show, which is a collaboration between Grassfed ArtistsTM and The Verandah Beecroft. The art show will feature pieces from an array of artists, curated by Nel Davis.
“Bringing original art to the local area is a passion, and presenting the works of the Grassfed ArtistsTM is a privilege.”
The show will be opened by Beecroft’s very own Sandra Ross, whose love
of gardens and the local area is a perfect complement to our love of
art. The opening event will be on Tuesday 21 May, commencing at 6 pm
with complimentary bubbles on arrival. FREE ENTRY. BOOKINGS REQUIRED.
(Head to The Verandah website.
The bar and restaurant will be open for the evening, and it is an
opportunity to enjoy the art, mingle with friends and meet the artists.
Following the opening, the art show will run until 2 June, during
Verandah opening hours. Opportunity to enjoy fine art, and perhaps stay
for coffee or a meal.
ANZAC Day 2024 ANZAC Day was again, thanks to Beecroft Rotary, a huge success with many residents attending the memorial service.
2024 ANZAC Day Service
Beecroft in the 50s and 60s The
trust has been granted permission to publish a collection of
photographs from the 50s and 60s. 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. Hannah Street looking East to Wongala Crescent
Wongala Crescent looking North to Hannah, station reserve on right. Wongala Crescent looking North past Arden
Beecroft Orchestra’s next concert for 2024 will be themed "Back to the Movies"
The concert will be held in the Cheltenham Girls High School new Performance Hall on June 30th.
Conductor-Joanna Drimatis
Visit the Beecroft Orchestra Website for more information at thebeecroftorchestra.net.au.
Tickets are available on the website or at the door.
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
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has for quite some time had its own
Facebook page. If you have not yet visited the page CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's May News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's May 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.
