GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
COMMUNITY AUTUMN EDITION 2022
First Nations art on bat caves in Poulton Park
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MAYORS MESSAGE hardship support options and local infrastructure projects. This will be a critical year for securing Georges River’s future as part of the Metropolis of 6 Cities with government investment in the Southern Aerotropolis and critical transport projects such as the River Rail and the Kogarah to Parramatta Rail Link. We will continue our advocacy to ensure that the State and Australian governments invest in Georges River. It is my pleasure to speak with you as the newly elected Mayor of Georges River Council. I welcome you to the autumn edition of Council’s Community magazine. Autumn is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the involvement and growth of our local community. 2021 was a challenging time for Council and the community as the pandemic continued to impact how we live. I see 2022 as an opportunity for all of us to focus on hope and optimism through reconnection and investment in what makes communities strong, sustainable and resilient. Your new Council has commenced work on preparing the 2022/23 budget. Through this budget we will seek to maintain high quality key services that serve our community every day. We will ensure the community’s priorities are addressed in accordance with our legislative obligations to secure a financially sustainable future. The new budget for 2022/23 will continue to support the local community with our usual grants programs, expansion of
This March, Council is proud to present a range of programs and events to support small businesses during Small Business Month. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions our business community makes to our region and provides access to resources to help businesses succeed. Additionally, Council is again hosting an International Women’s Day breakfast event, celebrating Georges River Women in Business; with the theme being ‘Break the Bias’ for a gender equal world. We turned to our community to help us name this year’s Youth Festival for April and the winner was picked: GRY Fest. GRY Fest will provide local youth with a combination of educational and social programs, skill building experiences and fun! I look forward to seeing Georges River’s next generation at the festival launch at Olds Park on 9 April 2022 which will showcase live music, food trucks and a variety of games and pop-up stalls.
Thank you to everyone who jumped online and had their say across the summer. We’ve wrapped up a number of consultations and gathered your feedback on some exciting projects and we wanted to share some of the participation highlights with you. Did you see our signs for our BMX and Mountain Bike Riding in Georges River consultation? Over 650 people did, letting us know their bike riding preferences and the parks where a biking facility should be provided in the area. And just recently, we asked for your ideas on what you would like to see implemented in Riverwood Town Centre, should Council be successful in its application to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Streets as Shared Spaces Round Two program. We heard from a wide range of community members who shared and supported each other’s ideas. A big welcome to the 100+ new Your Say members who joined since October! We look forward to connecting with you and hearing your thoughts on upcoming consultations. Not a member yet? Head over to our Your Say page to view any of these consultations and sign up to contribute to decisions that build a better Georges River. I am certain that this year we will build upon the excellent work of the 2017-2021 Council, as we look towards the future with an optimistic view. Nick Katris Mayor, Georges River Council
GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
CONTENTS 4.
COUNCIL
4.
Youth Advisory Commitee
4.
GRY Fest
5.
Zero Litter to Georges River Project
5.
E-waste drop off
5.
Return and Earn NSW
6.
We’re all in this together - Councils unite to provide storm clean-up assistance
7.
ENVIRONMENT
7.
Bushcare news
8.
COMMUNITY
8.
2022 Australia Day Award winners
10. Renewed excitement for the footy season and being at the game 11. Smaller Dragons shine in Junior Representative Season launch 12. Council recognises the hard work of our local organisations 12. CASS Care sensory room 14. BUSINESS 14. Providing business advice to our creative business owners 14. Electric Vehicle Charging EOI for businesses 15. Finally, a Micro-Brewery comes to Georges River
Georges River Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land in which the Georges River local government area is situated - the Biddegal people of the Eora nation.
COMMUNITY MAGAZINE IS MAKING SOME CHANGES We will continue to have the Community Magazine available at all our Libraries and our Home Library Service, Museum and Gallery, Early Learning Centres and Customer Service Centres. Copies will also be placed at our community facilities, including the Hurstville Entertainment Centre, and provided to reference and community groups. To ensure you can enjoy our magazine, we have made it easier to access. Now, moving into new digital platforms. This magazine is just one way to receive information from Council and we encourage you to sign up for our fortnightly Community E-news and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or view our YouTube channel.
16. ART AND CULTURE 16. Barely wearable: Body adornment in the age of over consumption 18. First Nations art in Poulton Park 20. Artist in Residence:Katika Schultz
Image on cover: Old depot materials repurposed as bat caves and habitats. Artwork by Danielle Mate
21. Georges River Council’s Un[contained] Arts Festival already one of Australia’s best street art drawcards 22. LOCAL HISTORY 22. Private Bob Steel 23. Penshurst Library turns 50!
SAY
YOUR
Be involved in important projects that shape the future of the Georges River area. Your feedback matters. Register via Council’s website at yoursay.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.
To subscribe, visit www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au and sign up via the eNewsletter form located at the bottom of the home page.
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COUNCIL
Youth Advisory Committee
Georges River Council is looking for new members to join our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The YAC is an advisory body to Council comprised of young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who live, work, study or have other relevant ties to the Georges River Council Local Government Area. The YAC provides young people with a platform to work with Council and have their voices heard, whilst simultaneously addressing their needs and aspirations.
YAC members are heavily involved in the delivery of youth and community events such as ‘Short Stuff’ Film Festival, Georges River Youth Literary Awards, ‘It’s a Mood’ Youth Festival 2021, ‘GRY Fest’ 2022, live music events, movie nights, and sporting activities. Further information about the YAC can be found on Council’s Young People page or in the Terms of Reference.
GRY FEST 2022 ‘GRY Fest’ (Georges River Youth Festival) is coming this April. The festival will provide a combination of engaging, social and educational programs, building skills and experiences all developed in partnership with Council’s Youth Advisory Committee. Highlighting this festival will be Old’s Park Youth Festival with live music, food trucks, pop-up skatepark, wheelchair basketball, bubble soccer, and pop-up stalls hosted by local youth and community organisations.
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Zero Litter in the Georges River Project Georges River Council, in partnership with Georges Riverkeeper and five other Councils, is seeking to help reduce litter flowing into the Georges River waterways, through stormwater runoff. Stormwater pollution occurs when oils, detergents, chemicals, and litter run off roads and end up in outdoor drains. This pollution ultimately causes harm to the natural river health, flora and fauna, and creates a human health risk.
Georges River Council is also involved with Milestone 3 of the Zero Litter to Georges River Project which revolves around community engagement and education. Connells Point Public School will participate in this Project, which seeks to teach students about litter, gross pollutant traps, and stormwater. Students will conduct stormwater drain audits, develop a campaign about the pollution issue, and create drain art to be painted on footpaths in the community.
For Milestone 1 of the Zero Litter in Georges River project, Georges River Council will install a ski-jump gross pollutant trap and additional erosion mitigation in Depot Road Creek, Mortdale, by 31 January 2022. Milestone 2 is the responsibility of a neighbouring Council.
This Project has received a $700,000 Environmental Restoration Fund program grant from the Australian Government. For more information, please visit the Georges Riverkeeper website or scan the QR Code.
E-Waste drop off
Return and Earn NSW
Georges River Council is committed to supporting local residents with waste disposal and increased recycling to reduce landfill and improve the local environment. This year, our E-Waste drop offs will become a day-long event, between 9.00am to 3.30pm, with an expanded 'acceptable item' categories. Acceptable items includes televisions, computers, laptops, printers, electrical cables, ink cartridges, hard drives, as well as gaming devices and their accessories, and small appliances such as toasters, fans, and microwaves.
Return your drink bottles and cans for a 10c refund and help reduce litter in our community with the container deposit scheme. For more information on locations in Georges River go to www.returnandearn.org.au.
For E-Waste drop off dates visit Council’s What’s On list on the website. A full list of accepted items available on our website. For more information, please visit council’s E-Waste page.
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COUNCIL
We’re all in this together
Councils unite to provide storm clean-up assistance It was mid-afternoon on 19 December 2021, when a strong microburst storm hit, devastating the Northern Beaches Area. Georges River Council’s Engineering Operations team stepped up to help Northern Beaches Council in the cleaning of the storm damage that occurred. With the provision of two trucks, two woodchippers, and four staff members from Georges River Council, the team worked tirelessly throughout the day and night with their northern counterparts and cleaned up around 8 tonnes of green waste, filling up two trucks with mulch. When it comes to contingency response, we are in it together. Northern Beaches Council was extremely grateful for the assistance Georges River Council provided.
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
ENVIRONMENT
Bushcare News The arrival of the summer season saw the return of our wonderful and dedicated Bushcare volunteers, who had been absent from site for over 6 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Georges River Council is thankful they are back on the ground protecting our local bushland areas. We couldn’t do it without all their valuable time spent helping Georges River Council’s bushcare team. During this quarter, the bushcare team was successful in obtaining grants for three bushland reserves, so contractors could help with the explosion of weeds during this 'La Nina' season. Environmental conditions are wetter and these are prime conditions for weed growth. But not just weeds benefit from these conditions. There were abundant sightings of native orchids in all our bushland reserves. If you would like to join in on all the fun happening within our bushland reserves, why don’t you become a bushcare volunteer and learn new skills and meet like-minded people who love the bush as much as you do! Follow the link below or scan the QR code to sign up. Also keep your eyes peeled for some up-and-coming bushcare events on Council’s What’s On events page and Georges River Bushcare Volunteers Facebook page.
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COMMUNITY
2022 Australia Day Award Winners
Citizen of the Year and Volunteer of the Year – Ray Barbi
Young Citizen of the Year - Ahmed Daaboul
Ray Barbi has been an active member of St George Basketball Association since 2005, and has held positions as Academy Coach, Head Representative Coach as well as his current role as President. Throughout his time at St George Basketball, Ray has sought to promote the sport of basketball in the local area and encourage physical activity in the area’s youth.
In 2020, Ahmed presented the idea of a food drive to the Wellbeing Team at his school, Hurstville Public School.
Ray was awarded the Banks Volunteer of the Year from David Coleman in 2015, received a Long Service Award in Basketball from NSW Sports Federation in 2012 and Basketball NSW in 2010, and has been nominated for Basketball NSW Life Membership. Ray’s passion for basketball and the local area has ensured the ongoing stability and growth of the sport in the area, and his volunteer coaching has enabled local players to go on to be selected in Basketball NSW representative programs as well as receiving offers to attend USA colleges.
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Ahmed was able to collectively encourage students to donate non-perishable food and personal hygiene products to support those who needed a helping hand over the holiday season. This resulted in 100 hampers being donated to those most in need. Hurstville Public School continues to donate nonperishable items towards the food program which has led to a Food Hub being established within the school throughout the year. Hurstville Public School and 3Bridges Community have named this food program Ahmed Food Drive after the young man whose inspiration created the program. This is not only providing a helping hand to those who were struggling financially but has created a chain reaction for other students to engage with 3Bridges and explore even more ideas on how to support their community.
GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Australia Day celebrates the reflection of our diverse community and what it means to be Australian. This year, Georges River Council has honoured the incredible achievements of our local citizens in the awards of, Young Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year, Green Advocate of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. The Australia Day Award winners received a framed certificate, commemorative pin, Australia Day Awards medallion, and custom crystal award. Georges River Council would like to congratulate all award winners for their achievements.
Sportsperson of the Year – Koda Ghassa Koda is passionate about sport on all levels and at all abilities. He is the President of the Kogarah Cougars Rugby League Club and is a life member of the club. Furthermore, Koda is working tirelessly towards the creation of a Georges River Institute of Sport. The Georges River Institute of Sport aims to bring together many grassroots sporting organisations from the St George area under a 'one community, one vision' perspective. Its purpose will be to assist local sporting clubs to collaborate effectively with Council, State and Federal governments. Koda has also worked diligently over the past 10 years to promote greater female participation in both Rugby League and League Tag (OzTag), not only at the Kogarah Cougars but also across the District Junior Rugby League competition. Over this time there has been a four-fold increase in female participation.
Green Advocate of the Year (Environmental Award) – Annette Mayne Annette is the founder of the Reconnect Project, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to close the digital divide by providing refurbished devices to people in need and diverting devices from landfill. Annette was the Westfield Local Hero in 2021 and has worked with businesses, councils and charities since 2002, designing and implementing recycling and reuse projects. She has developed interactive recycling displays with the London Science Museum, sits on the Board of a Sydney-based food rescue group and created The Bower’s ‘House to Home’ furniture program which won the NSW Premier’s Award for Environment in 2016. The Reconnect Project has refurbished and donated more than 730 devices to organisations helping woman flee domestic violence, refugees as well as young people and families in need.
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COMMUNITY
Zac Lomax kicks for St George Illawarra Dragons
Cody Ramsey
Ben Hunt
Renewed excitement for the footy season and being at the game The St George Illawarra Dragons will return to their traditional home ground Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in 2022 for yet another season of NRL Telstra Premiership action. St George Illawarra's first home game of the season comes against reigning premiers, the Penrith Panthers on Friday March 18 (Round 2) in what will double as the Dragons' memorial tribute for rugby league immortals and St George legends Norm Provan and Johnny Raper.
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The Dragons will play an additional four games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium throughout the 2022 season. With a new-look squad to boot – including the addition of Queensland Origin trio Moses Mbye, Jaydn Su'A and Francis Molo, internationals Aaron Woods, Moses Suli, Tautau Moga and George Burgess – the Dragons are hellbent on correcting their poor second half of last season. Don't miss out on seeing the Dragons back in action. Get your tickets today at ticketek.com.au.
GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Smaller Dragons shine in Junior Representative Season launch
Proud jersey recipients and dignitaries form the symbolic “V” on the day
St George Dragons District Rugby League Football Club (DRLFC) launched their much-anticipated Junior Representative Season on Saturday 29 January 2022. The launch was overseen by Football Manager, Kyle Stanley and dignitaries Mark Coure MP, Mayor Nick Katris, Councillors Sam Elmir and Colleen Symington, and Georges River Council General Manager, Gail Connolly.
pathway for those players into Junior Reps and hopefully bigger and better things.” St George DRLFC would also like to thank Georges River Council for their continued support and the use of Netstrata Jubilee Stadium Kogarah for the season launch.
The U17s Dragons Harold Matthews and U19s S.G Ball squads were in attendance and presented with their famous Red V jerseys and playing gear in anticipation for the season kick off on Saturday 5 February 2022. St George Dragons DRLFC Operations Manager and spokesperson, Koda Ghassa, said, “ the Junior Representative program is in a rebuilding stage under Football Manager Kyle Stanley with the focus on development of local players and creating a sustainable
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COMMUNITY
Council recognises the hard work of our local organisations Two local organisations have banded together with the local community to support pandemic frontline workers. Oatley Lions and the 2nd Mortdale Brownies have partnered together with the local community to support their Pandemic Frontline Workers Food Drive initiative. Oatley Lions collected non-perishable food items at a collection box at Oatley IGA and through their website and Facebook page, while members of the 2nd Mortdale Brownies door-knocked local streets and collected for frontline workers and those in need in the community. In the week leading up to Christmas, the boxes were delivered to the NSW Ambulance Service hub at Kogarah, St George Hospital, and to Georges River Life Care in Peakhurst. Oatley Lions Vice President, Richard Sheahan said, “Despite the tough times everyone has faced over the last 18 months, it is humbling to see how generous our local community is in times of need.” Georges River Council is thankful and appreciative for the work all our local organisations carry out for our community.
Richard Sheahan of Oatley Lions with Glenn Power of Georges River Life Care
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
CASS Care sensory room CASS Care is a community group working in Georges River to provide a comprehensive range of social and welfare services to our multicultural communities. When CASS Care realised their Peakhurst Day Program participants needed a sensory room, they applied for a Georges River Council Community Grant to make it happen. A sensory room is a therapeutic space designed to help people manage their emotions and explore their senses in a safe and supportive environment. CASS Care decided to convert an existing staff office into a space their participants, who are mostly culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability, can use when they need a break from the hustle and bustle of the regular Day Program. No two sensory rooms are the same and the team consulted professionals and program participants to make sure it was a good fit for the people who would use it. With Council’s $5,400 grant, wall mounted shelving and drawers were dismantled, furniture removed, and old carpets stripped. The exposed brick wall was covered with textured tiles and pads, and curtains were installed to dim the brightness from the sunlight. The finished room features mirrors, plants, gym mats, fibre optic lights, plush toys, essential oil diffusers, fidget cubes and felt boards, with liquid tiles on the floor, where coloured liquid shifts beneath your feet. They’ve also started stocking the room with blank canvases, so that users can create artworks in their downtime. The room is now spacious enough to host up to two users at a time, accompanied by support workers, and over 25 participants have enjoyed using the room so far. “Building the sensory room is an example of our commitment to making people with disability feel welcome and ensuring they receive quality services and experiences,” says Carol Fok, CASS Care’s Disability Services Coordinator. This project was funded by a Capacity Building Grant as part of Georges River Council’s Community Grants program. For more information about Council’s grants programs, see www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-Sponsorship or scan the QR code.
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BUSINESS
Providing business advice to our creative business owners A creative person usually thrives in a free-flowing environment, and loves to let their imagination run wild with very little limitation or restrictions to produce amazing works of art. But what happens when you want to turn your creative passion into a business. Navigating the numbers is not always a happy place, emotions can be overpowering, and maths can be complicated. And whoever learned the basics of business money and financial literacy during their arts training?
Monica Davidson from Creatives Plus Business
MONEY IS NOT A DIRTY WORD is a surprisingly fun and practical workshop designed specifically for creative learning styles (with pictures!), that answers some of the big scary financial questions including:
Many artists hate the ‘business’ side of their passion, they feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable in this space, but unfortunately it is necessary to ensure your business succeeds.
• The Famine and the Feast – weathering the ups and downs of creative income. • Making financial decisions more easily. • An introduction to working out what to charge. • The basics of budgets and cashflow projection. • More resources and places to go for help. You will walk away feeling more comfortable and confident about how to manage your business finances.
As part of Small Business Month in March, Council has organised a range of events to help support small business. One of those events is a workshop called, MONEY IS NOT A DIRTY WORD, presented by Monica Davidson from Creatives Plus Business.
This free event is on Monday 21 March 10.30am - 12.30pm at Hurstville Museum & Gallery. To book your spot, visit the Event page at GeorgesRiverBusiness. com.au or scan the QR Code.
Electric Vehicle Charging EOI for businesses If your business is looking to make an environmentally positive move and potentially bring in new customers or attract customers to stay longer, consider installing an Electric Vehicle charger in your carpark. The NSW Government have launched an EV Charging Master Plan as they aim to increase EV sales to 52% by 2030-32 and help NSW achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Expressions of interest to be an EV charging site host are now open. If eligible you can register your site and your information will be made available to charging providers. Charging providers are applying for Government funding and if successful may contact you directly to discuss the opportunity to install and operate charging infrastructure on your site.
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Finally, a Micro-Brewery comes to Georges River The Social Brewer is a tiny suburban brewery transforming a small red brick factory unit in Mortdale’s industrial area, into what will be Georges River’s first craft micro-brewery. Owner and brewer, Beau Curtis, left the comforts of the corporate world to realise this dream, and is excited at the prospect of getting to know the local community. “The Social Brewers is hyper-local by design with a vision is to bring locals together to share great beer from one of our 8 taps, or a wine from a small producer and a simple snack”. Beau explained the restrictions on travel through the lockdowns highlighted the lack of local brewery options. “The area deserves its own brewery. The Georges River is full of history and home to a multitude of vibrant communities. Locals with an interest in craft beer, right now, are forced to travel up to an hour away to enjoy a beer at a brewery. I want to give them somewhere local where they can come and enjoy the social aspects of sharing a beer.” The beers, which all reference local people and places, are designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Striders Session Ale is the first beer launched under The Social Brewers brand, named in honour of the local walking group which has been operating for almost 30 years – an iconic part of local life, like The Social Brewers is set to become. “It’s about the local community. I want to bring the small brewery experience to our area and build somewhere people can come and share a beer. A way they can get to know their neighbours” Beau added.
Beau Curtis from The Social Brewer
Beau is still working on getting his tap room open, and when it finally opens, The Social Brewers will be licensed for just 20 people at a time. In the meantime, you can purchase his beers to enjoy at home. For more information visit thesocialbrewers.com.au or follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on the progress of the tap room.
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ART AND CULTURE
A very close shave 2019, disposable razor blades
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Barely wearable:
Body adornment in the age of over consumption Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s first travelling exhibition for 2022 showcases the work of Ruth Downes. This body of work is a continuation of Ruth Downes’ passion for reappropriating everyday materials and objects to celebrate their intrinsic beauty. Materials for these ‘wearable’ artworks have been gleaned from a diverse range of sources – from aircraft headsets to coffee capsules. Detritus from nature has also been salvaged to be re-born as a fashion statement. By reimagining these materials, she has created works that transcend their utilitarian function, casting them in a fresh light. The works question our accepted values and how we award status by projecting these everyday materials into the realm of art. They have a preciousness that confounds our expectations irrespective of their humble origins. This is much more than a simple ‘up-cycling’ exercise - Downes has an acute awareness of the potential of these materials. Her trademark humour also runs as a thread throughout the exhibition adding a further dimension.
A recent addition to this travelling exhibition is a new work titled “Masking the problem”, reminiscent of an Elizabethan ruffle and made of 24 face masks, this includes matching earrings made from mask cords. Like many works in this travelling exhibition, Barely wearable, illustrates the impact of single-use items on the environment. Barely wearable will be on display at Hurstville Museum & Gallery from 29 January – 24 April 2022. This is a travelling exhibition touring throughout NSW and Queensland throughout 2020 – 2023. Contact details: Hurstville Museum & Gallery is located at 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville. Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10.00am – 4.00pm Sunday: 2.00pm – 5.00pm E-mail: museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au Phone: 9330 6444
Barely wearable masking the problem.
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ART AND CULTURE
Old depot materials repurposed as bat caves and habitats. Artwork by Danielle Mate
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
First Nations art in Poulton Park Georges River Council will now be home to its very first contemporary Aboriginal artwork along the Georges River, created by Australian Indigenous artist, Danielle Mate. Her artwork will be featured on the walls of newly installed bat caves at Lower Poulton Park, South Hurstville, as part of the recently completed Lower Poulton Park Naturalisation and Habitat Development project. Born in Fairfield, Sydney, Danielle originates from a line of Aboriginal ancestors, the Murrawarri People of Brewarrina and the Euahlayi People of Goodooga of north western NSW.
Danielle Mate While Painting the Exterior of the Bat Caves
Danielle’s artwork is characterised by a strong Aboriginal connection to her ancestors, drawing upon First Nations aesthetic, place, and cultural perspective to create a contemporary reflection of the natural environment and local landscapes. Formally trained as a visual artist at the University of Wollongong, Danielle’s artwork has been featured internationally in the private collection of former United States President, Barrack Obama, and in the collection of television personality, Ellen DeGeneres. Danielle has also created pieces for the launch of the first Australian Business Cultural Centre in Europe and has been a five-time finalist in the Parliament of New South Wales Aboriginal Art Prize. Her artwork on the newly installed bat caves in Lower Poulton Park will make representations of key features of traditional land and the native environment where local bats inhabit. Danielle said, “My designs are a bold contemporary reflection on the environment of which the bat caves are now situated. I want the work to be vibrant, playful, colourful and an exciting welcome for visitors to the park and creek.” A reflection of First Nation culture, Country, and the natural environment - You will find Danielle Mate’s artwork in the bat caves at the Lower Poulton Park, South Hurstville.
Old depot materials repurposed as bat caves and habitats. Artwork by Danielle Mate
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ART AND CULTURE
Artist in Residence: Katika Schultz
Katika Schultz
Katika Schultz is a multidisciplinary Sydney born artist. Her interests lie in psychology, mythology and the natural environment. Her passion for community has evolved to help other emerging artists through her Artist -run- space ‘YawwaY’ in Narrabeen, Sydney. With careful curation she unlocks art’s ability to bring people together and engage in contemporary discussions. Katika’s compassion for humankind can be seen in her figurative and portraiture work, hoping to create interrelations, joy and encouragement from her art.
Cottage, Katika also shared her work in progress via social media on the Hurstville Museum & Gallery social media pages.
What was your creative concept going into the residency? Did this idea change while at the residency?
How did you enjoy the experience of the Carss Park residency?
My ideas changed a number of times before and during my stay at the residency, from portraiture to family archive to figure in space and finally to a mix of all three. The impacts of social restrictions made some of my ideas difficult to achieve so I had to let go of a lot of expectations and once I did, the work started to gain momentum and was really enjoyable. Being present and open minded helped me to figure out how I could make this project work, but there were some bumps.
The experience of staying in a public park was quite surreal and dreamlike. I thoroughly enjoyed watching people take over the park and claim the space. Carss Park is a happy place, and I could really feel that while I was there.
During her residency at Carss Park
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GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
What benefits do you think this residency has for you as an artist? The privilege of having a place to be still, escape the daily routine and be in a purposeful place to make, is priceless. The house and studio are an oasis and more than anything a physical representation of how serious my practice is. Connecting with the locals and having support from the council arts team really helped with a feeling of belonging. The residency has helped me to think outside the box, reinvent myself and have the headspace to access contemporary thinking. What did you enjoy or find surprising about the residency? The house and studio are amazing. I felt very safe and the place was very calming. I loved being surrounded by people every day, that really helped with being inspired to make work. Watching the changing nature of the park, trees swaying, rain and bright sunny days. The Georges River Artist in Residence program allows artists time and space to explore new ideas and create new works, to experiment with their artform and to interact with the local community through workshops and exhibitions. The program aims to give opportunities to artists to develop their work while also contributing to Georges River Council’s cultural programs. Visit www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/ HMG - Artist in Residence for more information. Follow Hurstville Museum & Gallery @hurstvillemuseumgallery
Georges River Council’s Un[contained] Arts Festival already one of Australia’s best street art drawcards Georges River Council’s inaugural three-day street art festival held in the heart of Kogarah, in June 2021, has been shortlisted for the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards’ Best Street Art Festival. A showcase of large-scale installations and small, detailed artworks, Un[contained] was an explosion of art experiences and immersive activities through performance, sound, light, and colour. The unique festival challenged and pushed the boundaries of ‘art’, breaking free of the traditional gallery space and spilling onto the streets. Featuring more than 30 local and interstate artists, Un[contained] supported multiple event logistics companies and delivered millions of dollars’ worth of recognition and exposure to the NSW arts and entertainment sector. With rigorous judging by tourism leaders and second-tier auditing, Un[contained] Arts Festival's finalist success has the credence of the tourism sector. The winners for the Australian Street Art Awards categories will be announced as part of an online celebration on 4 March.
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LOCAL HISTORY
Private Bob Steel
troopship Suevic on 11 November 1916, disembarking at Devonport, England on 30 January 1917. It would have been a rough voyage through the Bay of Biscay in winter. Bob underwent further training in England, and then was transferred to the 63rd Battalion. Following an incident in July 1917 when he was briefly absent without leave, he was posted to France in August 1917. However within a month he had been transferred back to the 55th Battalion, to serve behind the lines at Battalion HQ, and at this point he was also medically classed C1 – which probably means that his defective eyesight had been discovered, and he was regarded as unsuitable for front-line service. It probably saved his life, because he was only posted to a front-line unit in the final fortnight of the war. He returned to Australia in July 1919 on the troopship Friedrichsruh.
Private Bob Steel 1916
This photograph has just come into the collection of Georges River Local Studies, with a caption on the reverse side stating ‘Bob Steel of Mortdale, 1916.’ Out of interest, we investigated what information there was available about this First World War soldier – and if you know more, we would love to hear from you. An initial search of files in our collection compiled from local newspapers did not find a Bob Steel from Mortdale, so we headed to the National Archives of Australia website, which holds war service records. It produced eight records for men named Robert Steel. Four of them enlisted from New South Wales. The third on the list, Robert Crawford Steel no 3220, enlisted at Goulburn – but his father was named as Joseph Steel, of ‘Newman Street, Penshurst’. Robert’s war service record shows that he enlisted in October 1916, suggesting that our photograph was taken at about that time, while he was in basic training in Sydney. He was 26 years old when he enlisted, and was born in Sydney. At time of enlistment, he was working in Goulburn as a labourer. He had black hair and blue eyes, was 5’7” tall (170cm) and weighed 145lb (65 kilos). He had a fresh complexion and scars on the left side of his neck. He had made a previous attempt to enlist, but was rejected due to poor eyesight. After a couple of months in a training battalion, he was assigned to the 55th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements, AIF as a Private, and embarked from Sydney on the
22 | READ ONLINE AT GEORGESRIVER.NSW.GOV.AU
A later entry in his war service record dating from 1964, indicated that he was by that time in a nursing home. We searched a website listing death notices from Australian newspapers and found that the death of Robert Crawford Steel on Christmas Day 1967 was intimated in the Sydney Morning Herald. Bob’s age was given as 77, and he was stated to be ‘late of Mortdale’. Digitised Electoral Rolls from the 1930s onwards list Bob living at 10 Newman Street, Mortdale along with his brother, Henry. With this information, we searched various genealogical websites, cross-referring to the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages website. Robert Crawford Steel’s birth was registered at Woollahra in 1890, and we think he was the third of six children of Joseph and Annie (nee Cherry). An older brother, Joseph junior, had died in 1902, and his younger brother John Steel died in 1916, killed in the Battle of Pozieres. This dreadful news may have been what spurred on Bob to successfully repeat his attempt to enlist. John Steel, no 4068, of the 3rd Battalion AIF, who died at Pozieres, is remembered on the Hurstville War Memorial and on the Mortdale Public School Roll of Honour, where he had once been a pupil. He was a brick-maker, presumably employed at Judd’s brickworks in Mortdale. Unfortunately, we do not have a photograph of him. A search of the Australian War Memorial and related websites does not turn up a photograph of Bob either – so it may be that ours is the only surviving photo of him. Like so many of us, he made no headlines in his lifetime, but he did his bit, and who could ask for more?
GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL
Penshust Library 1981
Penshurst Library turns 50! When Penshurst Library was built in the latter part of 1971, it occupied a site in the south-east corner of Olds Park, adjacent to the car-park. The official opening, on 11 February 1972, was carried out by the Mayor of Hurstville, James Walsh, who unveiled a plaque. The library cost a mere $40,000 to build. Upon opening the library had two staff, one of whom was a qualified librarian, and 7,000 books. In its first year, Penshurst Library loaned more than 100,000 items, showing how much local residents appreciated the facility. Within a few years, this number had doubled, and the stock of books in the library had quadrupled. Reflecting its popularity, Penshurst could claim to have the longest weekly opening hours of any branch library in Australia.
encouraged into the new world of computers by the helpful library staff, who gave tuition on computer basics. Extensive renovations in 2012 gave the library a fresh new look, with moveable shelving allowing for more flexibility in how the space could be used. Penshurst Library has aged gracefully, marking its fifty-year anniversary in February 2022. In that time, it has made itself a part of Penshurst life. You might be surprised to learn that the residents of Penshurst and district have borrowed more than 10 million items from their branch library. Laid down end to end, that’s enough to make a path from Sydney to Perth!
The library developed a great reputation for being family friendly, and activities organised for children have always been enthusiastically supported, particularly at Christmas. At the other end of the age-range, older residents were
COMMUNITY | AUTUMN EDITION 2022 | 23
Blakehurst
Hurstville
Kogarah Bay
Mortdale
Peakhurst
Sam Elmir
Colleen Symington
Mayor Nick Katris
Nick Smerdely
Kevin Greene
0410 654 310 selmir @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0409 546 202 csymington @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0419 402 191 nkatris @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0431 646 321 nsmerdely @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0407 291 872 kgreene @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
Natalie Mort
Nancy Liu
Elise Borg
Warren Tegg
Lou Konjarski
Deputy Mayor Kathryn Landsberry
Ben Wang
Sam Stratikopoulos
Christina Jamieson
Peter Mahoney
0499 522 200 nmort @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0419 984 934 klandsberry @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0400 681 188 nliu @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0499 366 888 bwang @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0477 222 089 eborg @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0438 750 355 sstratikopoulos @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0427 671 666 wtegg @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0431 833 609 cjamieson @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
After-hours Customer Service available at:
Phone: 9330 6400 24 hours, 7 days a week www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
f georgesrivercouncil i grcouncil y Georges River Council & mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
Georges River Civic Centre Corner MacMahon and Dora Streets, Hurstville Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm Clive James Library and Service Centre Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street Monday to Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm Sunday 10.00am – 1.00pm
Hurstville Library Monday to Friday 9.00am – 8.00pm Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm Council Libraries opening hours: Clive James Library Kogarah Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street, Kogarah Monday to Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm Sunday 10.00am – 1.00pm Clive James Council Service Centre Kogarah Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday Closed Sunday Closed
0421 188 896 lkonjarski @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
0419 374 727 pmahoney @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
Penshurst Library 630 Forest Road, Penshurst Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm Saturday 10.00am – 1.00pm Hurstville Library Corner Queens Road and Dora Street, Hurstville Monday to Friday 9.00am – 8.00pm Saturday and Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm Oatley Library 26 Letitia Street, Oatley Monday to Friday 11am – 5pm Saturday 10.00am – 1.00pm Sunday Closed South Hurstville Library Corner of Short and Allen Streets, South Hurstville Monday to Friday 11am – 5pm Saturday 10.00am – 1.00pm Sunday Closed