Good
• FIRE up your festive spirit by singing along to your favourite carols with music played by Bankstown and Yagoona Brass Bands at a free event at Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre on Wednesday, December 13, from 10.30am. All welcome. Further info: 9707 9733.
• LITTLE Wings is urging schools and other supporters taking part in the five-week Christmas Challenge to keep collecting to help achieve the goal of recycling 15,000 containers, with funds raised to ensure sick children can get home to enjoy the festive season. CEO Little Wings Clare Pearson said: “Let’s fuel dreams, ignite hope and prove that when we come together, we have the power to change lives.”
• A FREE International Day of People with Disability celebration will be held at Bankstown Arts Centre on Wednesday, December 6, 10am-12pm. Helping to encourage a more diverse, inclusive community, it will feature performances and real-life stories from people with lived experience of disability. Bookings essential: cb.city/IDPWD
• DO you know of an unsung hero that makes a difference in the community? The council’s Australia Day Awards nominations are now open with all encouraged to nominate an outstanding citizen in one of six categories – Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Organisation of the Year, the Jack Mundey Environment and Heritage, and the newly created Women in the Community Award. Nominate at: cb.city/AustraliaDayAwards
• THE community is invited to a Family Festival and Christmas Carols event at St Albans Belmore Anglican Church on Sunday, December 10. Starting at 5.30pm, the festival will include face painting, games, craft activities and a barbecue dinner with dessert. Carols will be courtesy of the South Pacific Concert Band, with a puppet presentation and Christmas video also on offer from 7-8pm. Everyone welcome.
• ONE morning last week about 8.10am, Tanya spied Bass High School Principal Martin Toaetolu walking down Johnstone Rd with a bin and pick up tool, collecting rubbish from the corner of Arundle Rd to the back entry of Bass Hill Plaza. “It was good to see the principal using his own time [before school] to pick up rubbish even though he didn’t have to,” she said.
• DO you have a question on the economy, government policy or the nation’s future? Padstow Community Care and the Coffee Haven invites seniors to their next free ‘In the Know’ monthly information sessions at the seniors hub, with local politicians in attendance to chat at the meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 10am, at 23 Cahors Road, Padstow. Just turn up on the day. Details: 9772 2299.
• LOCAL politician turned rockstar Glen Waud and his band Timeless will perform a dazzling acoustic with a blues rock edge concert at East Hills Hotel on Saturday, December 16, 6-9pm. Special guest Jay Goodo will also feature on the night.
• OLSENS Farewells is helping comfort the community and honour lives lost with its annual twilight service of remembrance at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea, on Wednesday, December 6, at 7pm. Attendees can expect comfortable seating arrangements at the non-denominational service followed by light refreshments in the garden – providing a wonderful opportunity for connection, reflection and personal contemplation. RSVP: Friday, December 1, via service@olsens.com.au.
Bad
• AVOIDING poo as she walks her dog past Kelso sporting fields, Jean feels sorry for the council workers who regularly clean up after games – bottles, cans, coffee cups and food packaging, but was shocked to see an overflowing rubbish bin left at one end of the cricket pitch: “They no doubt use it as a stump but I feel this is ‘just not cricket’.”
• A CALLER was shocked to see her water bill rise by $11 last quarter when her usage was less, following Sydney Water increasing its charge from $2.50 to $2.67 a kilolitre on July 1: “We don’t have a choice here, we can’t go to another provider and being charged more for water is the last thing we need after skyrocketing power, rent and food costs, it’s not right.”
• BANG, bang, bang – that’s the noise the wheels on her new car make when a mum has to take the middle lane on Milperra Road and anywhere on Edgar Street. “I have never known the pothole situation to be so bad,” she said. “I’m not blaming the council but it’s like as soon as one is repaired, another one emerges. Talk about having to drive defensively.”
• WITH experts fearing a summer surge of covid, residents are urged to be extra vigilant again by avoiding large crowds in enclosed spaces, not shaking hands, hugging or kissing, not visiting vulnerable people such as those in aged care facilities, hospitals, babies or people with weakened immunity systems, making sure vaccinations are up to date and most importantly, stay home from work, shops or school if unwell.
• A MILPERRA reader knows she is not alone but is dealing with stress like never before having to cough up nearly another person’s salary every month to pay her mortgage. “It’s gone from 2.9 per cent to 6.44 per cent,” she said. “I fear there’s going to be a huge amount of distressed mortgagee sales, I’m just hoping we can keep going and won’t be one of them.”
• A READER said Ibis and cockatoos attacked two plastic bags filled with rubbish outside a Panania housing complex last week: “The contents, including used panty liners, were strewn all over the footpath.” However, she felt sorry for the council workers who had to remove the rubbish two days later before having to repave the footpath. “It’s a shame my rates go towards cleaning up other people’s garbage,” she said.
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Hi Torch
Not sure if this would be of interest for the Good / Bad section. Its simply about two dumped rubbish issues.
1. The rubbish is in the bush area known as Virginius Reserve, which sits between Virginius Street Padstow and Centaur Street Revesby. It has been there at least since late June this year. About a 2 & 1/2 minute walk along a beaten track deep into the bush there is a clearing which unfortunately has become an area scattered by general rubbish. The rubbish consists mainly of discarded plastic bottles and cans, fast food wrappings and some broken chairs. It apears to have been a regular meering place because someone has set up an old outdoor garden setting with glass top table and chairs, some intact and some broken. One interesting item commonly referred to as a ‘bong’, a filtration smoking device, has been seen on the table. Although the area cant be seen from outside of the bush, it does represent an ugly site inside the otherwise natural reserve. CB Council have been informed via online and telephone.
2. A discarded large water heater cyclinder currently lies on the nature strip in Hydrae Street, Revesby (outside No.67). Its initial presence would not normally create concern however it has been there at least since 18 July this year. It could be a minor danger to vehicles or pedestrians as it sits on the crest of the grassed area, and could roll in either direction. The CB Council has been informed via online and telephone.
If the Torch is interested in reporting the items, I could be happy to check that both rubbish sites still existed prior to printing. ASlso, if it helps I have photos.
Regards
Peter