Georges River Council Community Magazine, Winter 2023 edition

COMMUNITY

Un[contained]

Arts Festival is back, bigger and brighter this winter

GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL MAGAZINE

Mayor's Message Contents

2. Mayor’s message FEATURES

3. Celebrating Georges River women

4. Artist in Residence

5. Local fairy floss business creates opportunities for Georges River youth

6. GRY Fest and Youth Week

7. Community Champion – Evelyn Hsieh

8. In Good Taste Recipe

YOUR COUNCIL

9. Georges River Art Prize 2023

9. New opening hours at Georges River Libraries

10. Start strong with Council’s Early Learning Services

11. Zero Litter in Georges River

11. Bushcare volunteer update

YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

12. Racism Not Welcome in Georges River

13. Ormonde Parade public art

YOUR CALENDAR

14. Join us at the 2023 Un[contained] Arts Festival this winter

16. Home in St George 1920-1960

18. Anh Do - The Happiest Refugee Live! at Hurstville Entertainment Centre

19. Don’t moss around, register to Council’s Verge Garden Program

Welcome to the winter edition of Community. Firstly, I wanted to thank the community for all the support at our recent events. It’s great to see people of all ages connecting with each other and I get to meet each of you along the way.

Georges River libraries launched new opening hours at the Hurstville, Kogarah, Oatley, Penshurst and South Hurstville branches.

On International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day, I met with Australian football great, Craig Foster to launch the ‘Racism Not Welcome’ initiative as part of our commitment to the Better Together campaign.

I’m proud to see the 12 ‘Racism Not Welcome’ street signs installed across the Georges River LGA as it celebrates our diversity and fosters a socially inclusive and connected community.

There was also a fantastic turnout at GRYFest which returned to Penshurst Park as part of our annual Youth Week celebrations. This year’s Battle of the Beats Competition saw five talented youth artists and groups take to the stage to showcase their talent in front of the community.

Well done to our finalists: KOKONUTZ, pocketwatch, Dolor, Shrooms N’ Shrubs and Jacinta Drumond.

For things to do this winter, I encourage everyone to visit Hurstville Museum & Gallery for the Home in St George 1920-1960 Exhibition. This exhibition explores different aspects of domestic life in the Georges River area and is made almost entirely of items from the Hurstville Museum & Gallery collection.

And finally, I’m excited to share the Un[contained] Arts Festival will be making a return to Kogarah. This year will be bigger and better than ever before with interactive art installations, performers, live entertainment and lots of food and drink stalls. I look forward to seeing you all there!

That’s all for now. Stay warm!

Nick Katris Mayor, Georges River Council

Georges River Council acknowledges the Bidjigal people of the Eora Nation, who are the Traditional Custodians of all lands, waters and sky in the Georges River area. Council recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as an integral part of the Georges River community and values their social and cultural contributions.

We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who live work and meet on these lands.

Artwork: Water by Aunty Annette Webb.

Cover image: Hatched by Curious Legends

Celebrating Georges River women

Council’s annual International Women’s Day Breakfast for 2023 was a fantastic, emotional, and eye-opening event for the 144 attendees at Club Central Hurstville on Wednesday 8 March.

This year’s theme was Embrace Equity, and the crowd were inspired by the personal stories of resilience and amazing community work by three local panelists Senior Constable Sonia Krcalovic from St George Police Area Command, Jada Mundine, NSW Department of Planning and Environment Project Support Officer, and Sharlene McKenzie OAM, Managing Director Allawaw Aboriginal Corporation.

Autism Community Network CEO, Vanessa Gauci, who was the Master of Ceremonies and Deputy Mayor Kathryn Landsberry also shared their life experiences.

Stef Allen, Housing Manager of Kingsway Care depicted the realities and statistics regarding homeless women at the local crisis accommodation refuge centre and nationally.

Council’s City Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Officer, Tania Katsanis, who organised the event, was panel facilitator. Topics discussed on the day included domestic abuse, overcoming stage-four breast cancer, intergenerational trauma, sacrifices, homelessness and major life and career transitions. Beliefs on boundaries, superannuation, education, parenting, and changing social norms were also touched on.

It was very inspiring for the crowd to hear how passionate the panelists and speakers are about making significant

positive contributions to their communities fueled by what they have learnt during their experiences. They are advocates for change and this also encapsulates this year’s theme of Embrace Equity, as all the women have chosen careers to support and help vulnerable community members.

The advice they offer to all of us is based on the four S’s – See Something, Say Something. It is our responsibility as members of a community to help where we can.

Over $5000 was raised in tickets sales and donations for Kingsway Care.

L-R Guest speakers Senior Constable Sonia Krcalovic, Jada Mundine, Vanessa Gauci (MC) and Sharlene McKenzie OAM

International Women's Day Breakfast

The Georges River Artist in Residence program sees five diverse artists undertake a residency at the Carss Park Artists’ Studio throughout 2023.

Lissa-Jane de Sailles completed her residency from February through to April. Lissa is a fibre sculptor and maker of traditional and contemporary basketry. She has won several scholarships that enabled her to continue professional development in Ireland, England, Dubai, and America. During her 8-week residency, Lissa facilitated a 4-week basketry course as well as a weekend workshop.

From April to June, Marta Romani and Karl Logge, a collaborative artist-research team from Northern Italy and Australia undertook their residency. They specialise in the creation of community driven projects that engage landscape, nature, memory, and future sustainment. Residing in Sardinia, they have been learning from a master weaver the original techniques of spinning with the 'fuso', natural dyeing, ancient designs, patterns, and stitches.

Artist in Residence

This ongoing process of learning and reflection has opened a new relationship with nature, landscape, and art.

Sydney based photo media artist, Bernadette Bailey Smith, explores coastal environments highlighting the need for water sustainability. Blending fine art and documentary approaches her art practice encompasses photography, video, painting, and installation. Bernadette will be Artist in Residence from June to August.

Liz Walker investigates contemporary social and environmental concerns by collecting, repurposing, and extending the material possibilities of natural ephemera, found detritus and recycled domestic items. During her stay, Liz will work alongside locals to create a collaborative, site specific artwork in October.

November to December will see painter, photographer and new media artist, Manfred Krautschneider who’s work responds to the fluidity of space and light. His work is most commonly depicting streetscapes as reflected on imperfect surfaces.

To learn more about the Georges River Artist in Residence program, visit Council's website

Lissa-Jane de Sailles, Red waratah girl, paper on skin 2022 runner up Image: Grant Wells model: Kelsey Bos

Local fairy floss business creates opportunities for Georges River youth

What started as a part time experiment in early 2016, at the local markets here in Georges River, has now become a full-time business venture for owners, Paola and Michael Karamillis.

Fluffy Crunch is Australia’s only multi award winning fairy floss manufacturer, putting a fun gourmet spin on a carnival classic.

Paola and Michael encountered their fair share of challenges over the period of covid lockdowns as they had to rapidly transition from an events-based business to an online store. They lost their labour force almost entirely as it was predominately made up of casual staff and international students, who all went back home before the border closures. Through this period of struggle, Paola and Michael found hope and prosperity in the local community and started employing the youth in the Georges River area.

“We started to offer after school job security and an opportunity to learn new skills that would help prepare local students for the workforce.”

They currently have eight staff members under the age of 18 working for them after school and Fluffy Crunch has been their first ever workplace experience.

“This has kept us moving forward and we plan to keep doing more of what works and invest more time into training and developing

our team. This process has also highlighted the need for us to create better systems, processes, and documents around operations.”

Fluffy crunch has been able to provide fantastic development opportunities for their younger staff members. For example, Amber who is studying graphic design at university has been helping design some new products for them including a range of Fluffy Crunch Tote Bags which were sold at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and has also helped with some website design.

Other staff members Maddy and Katalina, who are studying Law and Business Management respectively, have stayed on to help manufacture fairy floss and help with content creation on the Fluffy Crunch social media platforms.

They have also started training senior team members, who have just finished year 12, to supervise the younger team members.

This incredible business has helped to open doors and opportunities for many young people living in Georges River and their journey is a testament to what can be achieved and overcome through the strength of a community.

Fluffy Crunch is a part of Georges River Business, connecting businesses and people across Georges River. Register for this free networking tool by visiting the Georges River Business website.

Fluffy Crunch staff

GRYFest and Youth Week

In April, Georges River Council held the annual Youth Week event, GRYFest, which provided opportunities for young people to express their ideas and views, and engage with their local community through youth-led activities and events.

GRYFest was buzzing all day with a jam-packed schedule of activities. From bubble soccer to a video game trailer and later; Battle of the Beats – a dedicated youth music competition – the festival was a huge success.

The event was shared on Council’s social media channels by Council’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). This allowed YAC members to engage directly with the community and capture the day from their perspective.

As part of Youth Week celebrations, Council also hosted an Intergenerational Chess Tournament. This event brought together community members of all ages and was an absolute hit. This year’s event was hosted at Blakehurst High School as part of the Department of Education’s ‘Shared Spaces’ initiative.

Youth Week events are important for our young community members to be given a platform to express themselves, showcase their talents, acquire skills, form connections, and expand their networks.

Congratulations to KOKONUTZ, 2023 Battle of the Beats Winner!

Five talented young artists and performers were shortlisted for this year’s Battle of the Beats music competition at GRYFest. They were selected by a panel of young people and youth services within the local government area (LGA).

Jacinta Drumond, Shrooms ‘N’ Shrubs, KOKONUTZ, Pocketwatch and DOLOR all took to the stage to deliver a live music spectacular complete with original music and covers. However, there could only be one winner and it was KOKONUTZ who took home first prize.

Pocketwatch finished as runner-up and DOLOR in third place, the acts were judged by local young people with a passion for music.

The winners received gift vouchers to Bexley Guitars to support their music careers:

$2,500 prize value for first place

$1,500 prize value for second place $500 prize value for third place

Congratulations to the winners and well done to all Battle of the Beats performers this year!

2023 Battle of the Beats winner - KOKONUTZ

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Evelyn Hsieh

For the past two years, Evelyn has been an active member of Council’s Youth Advisory Committee providing input on issues affecting young people within the Georges River Area.

Evelyn shares her experiences about advocating for strategies that aim to support youth employment and positive mental health among other important topics to young people in our LGA.

How have you positively impacted your community?

I’ve supported Council events and initiatives such as NAIDOC week and those targeted to youth like GRYfest. I have also been fortunate to join 2Connect as a peer educator, raising awareness of other youth issues including healthy relationships, drugs, alcohol and gender attitudes.

Do you have any tips or advice relevant to your contribution to share with the community?

Age is not a barrier to creating change. Anyone, regardless of their age, can make a difference in their community and beyond. Little changes make big changes. If everyone starts small, such as simply spreading awareness about an important cause can all have a significant impact.

What do you love about your community?

My community is inclusive, where everyone feels welcome and valued, regardless of their background, identity, or abilities. This helped create a sense of belonging and foster a culture of respect and understanding between residents.

What do you love about the Georges River LGA?

Our local parks and beaches are great places to relax and unwind, providing a refreshing break from the stress and demands of my daily life. A stroll by the beach definitely improves my mood and rejuvenates me for the day.

About Georges River Council’s YAC

Council’s YAC are passionate about improving outcomes for local youth.

They do this through advocacy and direct involvement in projects designed to support fellow young people.

The YAC is involved in Youth Week by offering leadership in the development of events. They provide advice for a range of areas, from what events will be offered and when, the selection of venues and the talent.

Interested in joining Georges River Council’s YAC?

For more information or to join, make sure you complete the registration form on the Young People page on Council’s website.

IN GOOD TASTE RECIPES

Selroti and Aaluko Achar

Region: Nepal Contributor: Binita Chhetri

Selroti and Aaluko Achar are an integral part of Nepali cuisine and are often made during special occasions and festivals such as Dashain and Tihar.

Selroti is a sweet pastry made with rice flour, sugar, and cardamom powder, is often associated with celebrations and auspicious events in Nepali culture. Aaluko Achar on the other hand, is a spicy and tangy tomato chutney-like condiment that complements Selroti perfectly. Paired together, they represent the warmth and festive spirit of Nepali culture, making them a cherished part of Nepali cuisine.

Ingredients

Selroti:

2 cups of rice flour

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup sugar (or to taste)

½ teaspoon cardamom powder

1 and ½ cups water (adjust as needed)

½ teaspoon baking powder

Ghee (clarified butter) or oil for frying

Aaluko Achar:

2-3 medium-sized fresh tomatoes, finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1-inch piece of ginger, minced

2-3 green chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)

¼ cup mustard oil*

2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

½ teaspoon turmeric powder

½ teaspoon red chili powder (or to taste)

Method

Selroti:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine rice flour, sugar, and cardamom powder. Mix well.

2. Slowly add water, a little at a time, while continuously stirring the mixture, until you get a thick, smooth batter-like consistency. The amount of water needed may vary, so adjust accordingly.

3. Heat ghee or oil in a deep-frying pan on medium heat.

4. Using a funnel or a piping bag with a large round nozzle, pour the batter into hot oil in a circular motion to form a ring shape.

5. Fry the Selroti on medium heat until it turns golden brown and crispy on both sides.

6. Using a slotted spoon, remove the Selroti from the oil and place it on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

7. Repeat the process with the remaining batter.

Aaluko achar:

1. In a bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, green chilies, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, cumin seeds, turmeric powder, and red chili powder. Mix well and set aside.

2. Heat the mustard oil in a pan until it reaches smoking point. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the hot oil into the bowl with the mixture. Mix well.

Tip: Using hot oils adds an extra layer of flavour to Aaluko Achar but be careful while handling hot oil to avoid burns.

3. Adjust the seasoning according to taste.

4. Let the Aaluko Achar sit for at least 30 minutes for the flavours to meld together.

5. Serve Aaluko Achar with the Selroti.

*Mustard oil is traditionally used for its distinct flavour, but can be substituted with any other oil if it is not available

The Georges River Art Prize is an exhibition that happens every two years, showcasing the finest paintings and sculptures by artists from across the nation. It also gives young local artists a platform to display their works.

Selected works will be exhibited at Hurstville Museum & Gallery and Clive James Library Kogarah for three months from 28 October.

With over $20,000 of prizes on offer, entries for the 2023 Georges River Art Prize will open Monday 3 July, and close Friday 1 September.

Prize categories

Art Prize (painting prize) - $10,000 acquisitive

Sculpture Prize - $5,000

Local Artist Prize - $4,000 acquisitive & a solo exhibition

Little Artist Prize (7-12 years of age) - $200 materials voucher

Youth Prize (13-17 years of age) - $300 materials voucher

People’s Choice Prize - $500

Favourite Young Artist Prize - $100

Important dates:

Entries open: Monday 3 July 2023

Entries close: Friday 1 September 2023

Exhibition: 28 October 2023 - 18 January 2024

For more information, visit the Georges River Art Prize page on Council’s website.

New opening hours at Georges River Libraries

Georges River Libraries are looking forward to providing more access to our services and welcoming the community into our branches at Hurstville, Kogarah, Oatley, Penshurst, and South Hurstville.

From books, online resources, to creative workshops and author talks, the library is a hub of creativity and connection. Join the library today and start exploring the world of inspiration that awaits you.

The new opening hours are as follows:

Hurstville Library and Service Centre

Mon to Fri: 9.00am - 8.00pm

Sat: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Sun: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Clive James Library and Service Centre

Mon to Fri: 9.00am - 8.00pm

Sat: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Sun: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Penshurst Library

Mon to Fri: 10.00am - 6.00pm Sat: 10.00am - 5.00pm Sun: Closed

Oatley Library

Mon to Fri: 10.00am - 6.00pm Sat: 10.00am - 1.00pm Sun: Closed

South Hurstville Library

Mon to Fri: 10.00am - 6.00pm Sat: 10.00am - 1.00pm Sun: Closed

For more information or to stay up to date with resources and events, visit the Libraries page on Council’s website.

Start strong with Council’s Early Learning Services

“Children who attend a high-quality early education program in the year before school are up to 40 percent ahead of their peers by the time they reach Year 3 in primary school.”

Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth

Research shows early learning equips children with the social, cognitive and emotional skills needed for continued learning. These benefits extend beyond primary school with higher levels of educational success, employment and social skills linked to moderate levels of participation in quality early childhood education.

Georges River Council believes education builds capable communities. Council provides high quality early education and care to meet the educational needs of our community’s children and their families. With a focus on play-based learning and holistic development, we cultivate innovative and sustainable places and spaces for children to thrive.

Council’s highly qualified team facilitate programs to give each child the fundamental skills needed for life-long learning. Our transition to school programs provide children with literacy, numeracy, social interaction and self-help skills to support their development.

With a strong focus on inclusive and sustainable practices, Council offers educational programs across six locations in the Georges River Council local government area. Our early learning centres are located in Beverly Hills, Kogarah, Carss Park, Penshurst, South Hurstville and Oatley West. Each service caters for every child’s individual, cultural and developmental needs.

We value our links with the local community and strong partnerships with our families which embed a sense of belonging within our early learning centres. Our children engage in intergenerational experiences with our senior community members and participate in collaborative cultural learning with First Nations organisations.

The Georges River Council Community and Early Learning Services’ wide network of educators, managers, community officers, librarians, art and social history curators and child protection professionals, work collaboratively to educate and support families and the community.

To enrol in one of our early learning centres, or to simply learn more visit Council’s Early Learning Services pages on our website.

Zero Litter in Georges River program complete

Georges River Council has completed our involvement in the Georges Riverkeeper “Zero Litter in Georges River” program with some amazing drain artwork installed across the local area.

The campaign started last year with Connells Point Public School being selected as one of six primary schools to be part of the program, developed by Georges Riverkeeper with grant funding from the Australian Government.

To reduce the amount of litter in the Georges River, Connells Point Public School was invited to receive free environmental education by professional educators, focusing on litter reduction and stormwater, aligned to the NSW curriculum.

As part of their Local Litter Hero tasks, students created colourful artworks to inspire a zero-litter life. Born Ready Art professional artist, Corey Nichols, recently completed the drain artwork using student artworks on footpaths near Connells Point Public School, Oatley Memorial Park and Hurstville Station Interchange.

The drain art also incorporates the use of Augmented Reality technology. By scanning the QR code, you can interact with a virtual long-neck turtle called ‘Zero’, one of the native animals found in the Georges River that is threatened by pollution. You can learn more about what you can do to reduce litter in Georges River and keep your neighbourhood clean.

Next time you are out in the community, take a minute to enjoy the drain art. They are a great reminder that drains take rain straight to the river, along with all the pollution on our streets. Let’s all do the right thing by placing litter in the bin to keep Georges River clean and safe.

This was a fantastic initiative to not only educate the students involved but the entire Georges River community. We would like to thank Connells Point Public School and the Georges Riverkeeper team for assisting in this successful campaign.

To learn more about the program or Georges Riverkeeper, visit the Zero Litter in Georges River local hero page on their website.

Bushcare volunteer updates

In February the Bushcare teamed were joined by some great volunteers who helped at Clarendon Reserve. Lots of weeds were removed such as Lantana and invasive grasses which invade the estuarine areas. One lucky volunteer spotted Alligator weed, which was removed and disposed of correctly by Council’s Biosecurity Officer as it is a priority weed in Sydney.

This event was a milestone of the Crown Reserves Improvement Funds program.

Local Land Services Planting Day at Poulton Park

Some keen volunteers gathered to plant some much-needed shrubs and grasses in bare area of Poulton Park that would benefit from plantings. Even the torrential rain couldn't stop these dedicated volunteers who planted out 800 native plants of differing species. This event was a milestone of the Local Land Services grant program.

Want to get involved? There are many Bushcare events held throughout the year, to stay up to date with upcoming events, visit Council’s What’s On page. If you’re interested in becoming a Bushcare volunteer, complete the registration form on the Bushcare Volunteering page.

Volunteer weeding

Racism Not Welcome in Georges River

Council has joined 16 NSW and Victorian councils to participate in the #RacismNotWelcome initiative, as part of our commitment to the Better Together campaign.

Georges River is a rich and culturally diverse community. We celebrate our diversity and are committed to supporting a socially inclusive and connected community.

As part of the initiative, Council has installed 12 #RacismNotWelcome street signs across the local government area (LGA). The street signs were installed at key locations including train stations and town centres in; Hurstville, South Hurstville, Beverly Hills, Kogarah, Kogarah Bay, Oatley, Lugarno, Riverwood, Mortdale, Penshurst, Kyle Bay and Allawah.

We spoke to some community members about the recent installation.

“Many people do not recognise racism until it affects them, when they fall victim to racism, the sign could bring up the conversation of racism in the community.” – Ernest; has worked in the Georges River LGA for the past 10 years.

“It's a good reminder for people to respect and welcome all groups and actively watch out for one another.” – Rosaline; knows the Georges River LGA like the back of her hand and feels happy and safe with the increase of different multicultural groups.

Learn more about #RacismNotWelcome by visiting the ‘Better Together’ page on Council’s website.

Rosaline Uanivā Havea, GRC Multicultural Reference Group member.

Ernest Yung, GRC Multicultural Reference Group member

Ormonde Parade public art

In April 2023, the public artwork at Ormonde Parade called Interwoven, was installed in the transit corridor of the Hurstville Railway Station interchange.

Public art is a key initiative of Georges River Council, that elevates the visual profile of our places, provides insights into our cultural life and community values, and contributes to the vibrancy of the local area for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors.

Interwoven, is a permanent installation that utilises suspended LED lighting and patterned light projections to create a sensory experience and immersive journey along the Ormonde Parade transport hub.

The installation transforms the transport hub from a place of waiting to a place of unlimited destinations, synchronised with the rhythm of the urban environment.

The LED lighting is a symphony of art and symbolism, configured into straight lines and sweeping forms. Each trail of light represents a map after a corridor of connectivity within Georges River LGA; waterways, arterial roads, railways, traditional trails, and bus routes. The work pays homage to the past, present, and future of the Georges River area, drawing inspiration from the waterways, local flora and fauna and rich First Nations heritage.

The work of Sydney-based artist Lawrence Liang (Lawrence Liang Public Art) renowned for immersive audio visual and mixed media sculptures and installations

(Ali Megahed), won the competitive Expressions of Interest process in February 2022 to commission a public artwork for Ormonde Parade.

Working with Tilt Industrial Designs to develop, fabricate and install the artwork, Interwoven immerses visitors as they walk underneath it, allowing them to experience the ebb and flow rhythm of the artwork, its changing light sequence and patterns, as they move along the corridor.

To find out more about Interwoven and public art in the Georges River, visit Public Art page on Council’s website.

Interwoven Public Art Installation, Ormonde Parade - Lawrence Liang (artist) and Georges River Council Mayor Nick Katris

Join us at the 2023 Un[contained] Arts Festival this winter!

The Un[contained] Arts Festival is once again returning to deliver three days of excitement to surprise and delight our community along Belgrave Street, Kogarah.

The festival will feature an array of immersive art installations, dynamic live performances, and mouth-watering food.

Un[contained] will be an accessible event, inviting people from all walks of life across all abilities to take part in a celebration of our city’s creativity.

Artists include Aaron McGarry, Amy Claire Mills, Nathan Starchild, Curious Legends, UNSW Illuminate, Ox King, Darren Charlwood, Tim Andrew, Pulsing Heart and many more!

Friday 23 June - Sunday 25 June 2023 4.30pm-10.00pm

Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street

Artwork sneak peek

Eddy by Pulsing Heart (@pulsing.heart)

Eddy is a participatory sculptural instrument empowering audiences to create a percussive soundscape through collaborative play. The 15-metre-long wall of glossy white spheres is a visually striking, tactile and aural spectacle that becomes the vibrant nucleus of any public space.

Each sphere in Eddy is filled with a different material from ping pong balls or metal bearings, to bottle caps and coins. As the audience spins the spheres by hand, they discover the unique analogue sound each one creates. As more spheres spin, the percussive reverberations layer to create an evolving soundscape, guided by the public.

Antarean Pyramid by Nathan Starchild (@starchildart)

As above, so below. This sacred geometric pyramid construction is designed to call in the energies of the star Antares, the red beating heart of the Scorpius Constellation. Inside you will be guided by “The Light Being” to explore your own creativity, creating a unique piece of light up LED jewellery out of reclaimed and recycled materials to take with you.

Hatched by Curious Legends

Hatched by Curious Legends (@curiouslegends)

What lives in YOUR trash? Hatched is the latest show from Curious Legends, featuring 2 adorable Ibis Chicks - Nellie and Sid - making their way in the world. Hatching from a wheelie bin, these baby bin chickens will light up the night with their antics, clowning, and glowing illumination.

Modelled after the humble bin chicken - much maligned by Australian culture - the Ibis is reimagined in this playful performance by Curious Legends. Perhaps we have more in common with bin chickens than we realise...

Dinners Past by Rhiannon Hopley (@rhiannonhopley)

An immersive installation that explores remembrance and placemaking through projection, sound, and scent.

By evoking memories of lost and past moments, of shared meals with friends and family - the noise, the discussions, the disagreements, the quaint and peaceful moments, the celebrations and milestones - the installation creates a sensory experience that invites viewers to connect with the work with a sense of familiarity, remembering those who have passed while continuing to make new memories with those they love, connecting with new friends, and others who are yet to join us at our dinner table.

HEXADECA

Created by Adelaide based design studio, Pulsing Heart, HEXADECA encourages indulgent play, regardless of your physical ability, age, or culture.

This architecturally designed, music making playground invites you to engage with art in a tactile way.

The project was commissioned by WOMADelaide and premiered in 2022 to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. HEXADECA has since toured across Australia to festivals and public spaces including a ten-day presentation in Fed Square, Melbourne.

Food, Drinks and Dessert:

PourSomeSuga Fairy Floss and popcorn specialising in designer fairy floss that is skilfully crafted in style of popular characters in a variety of different colours and flavours. They also create glow fairy floss in many designs.

Sweet Street Serving up fresh Lokma and waffle sticks loaded with a variety of sweet toppings. Lokma (fried crunchy dough balls) are mixed and fried on site to order and our waffle sticks are pressed on site also before being loaded with warm chocolates and toppings.

Ox King

Sweet Street

Home in St George 1920-1960 Our local domestic treasures on display

Home in St George 1920-1960 will be on exhibition at Hurstville Museum & Gallery until 23 July.

This exhibition explores different aspects of domestic life in the Georges River area, from building your own house and garden to the lives of the men, women, and children who occupied them.

Excitingly, this exhibition is made up almost entirely of items from the Hurstville Museum & Gallery collection, and is the largest display of our collection to date - over 150 items have been selected from our collection of over 6000 objects. This is the first time that many of the objects have been on display inside the Museum & Gallery.

Some of the highlights from the collection that will be on display include a kerosene powered iron, a set of clockwork toys made in U.S. Zone Germany, and a beautiful beaded reticule bag, made in Czechoslovakia.

Home in St George 1920-1960 exhibition at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

Clockwork tin toys, Hurstville Museum & Gallery collection

Home in St George – Open Day

As part of the Home in St George 1920-1960 exhibition, we will offer an Open Day on Saturday 8 July 2023 filled with free activities for the whole family.

The day will start with Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, who will open the day and share a recollection of her memories while growing up in the area. The Curator of the exhibition will be offering tours throughout the day, and we will have a permaculture talk in the afternoon. We will also have a craft station for families to create their own wooden peg doll.

Join us for a day filled with fun activities!

Saturday 8 July 2023

Hurstville Museum & Gallery

10.00am - 4.00pm

Free event

Building Recollections

How were homes designed and built in the local area between the 1920s to the 1960s?

As part of the Home in St George 1920-1960 exhibition, we would love to know if you, your family members or relatives built their own home (as owner-occupiers) in the Georges River Council area or worked in the industries of building.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery invites you to come along on Monday 17 July from 10.30am to 11.30pm, to view the exhibition and share your recollections of building and making your home during these decades. If you have photographs, documents or objects related to the design, planning or construction of your home, please bring them along too.

Free, light refreshments provided.

Monday 17 July 2023

Hurstville Museum & Gallery

10.30am - 11.30am

Free event

Visit

on Council’s website for more information on the exhibition. For further information events, visit Council’s What´s On page.

the Hurstville Museum & Gallery page

Home in St George 1920-1960 exhibition opening at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

Anh Do The Happiest Refugee Live! At Hurstville Entertainment

Comedian Anh Do returns to Hurstville Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 25 July 2023 for a special live performance of his best-selling memoir, The Happiest Refugee.

This moving, inspirational and unforgettable theatre experience combines humour, real life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell Do's amazing story.

Anh Do travelled to Australia in 1980 on an eight-metre fishing boat with 47 other Vietnamese refugees. Sick with dehydration and one person already dead, the journey was the first of many struggles for a young Do, who overcame all manner of difficulties throughout his life to become a lawyer and, in 2008, Australia's Comedian of the Year.

Today he is one of Australia's most sought-after stand-ups, as well as a talented writer, actor, artist, producer and Star of the ABC TV's “Anh's Brush With Fame".

Centre

The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir, charts his journey from starving refugee to one of Australia's best-loved entertainers, and was described by Russell Crowe as "the most surprising and inspiring read I have had in years,". It was recently awarded Book of the Year with sales in excess of 450,000.

Do's struggles as a young refugee - his difficulties with English, divorcing parents, being bullied and broke, are brought to life in this hilarious but moving stage show, garnering this happy refugee standing ovations across the country.

Hurstville Entertainment Centre

16 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

Tuesday 25 July 2023 7.00pm

Don’t moss around, register to Council’s Verge Garden Program

Council is calling for new and experienced gardeners to join a community passionate about transforming street verges into unique gardens.

About the Verge Garden Program

In 2022, Council launched the Verge Garden Program, which permits residents and business owners to create a garden on the verge also commonly known as the “nature strip”. This is the area of public land located between a property boundary and the road kerb.

Ready to start? Make sure to:

1. Check the guidelines to see if your verge is eligible

2. Register your details online

3. Start gardening!

To register or for more information, visit the Verge Garden Program page on Council’s website.

Verge gardening workshops

Council has arranged to hold two workshops about verge gardening. Workshops will run for two-hours and be held from the Carss Park Community Garden (at the Straw Bale Shed) on:

Wednesday 21 June 2023 from 10.30am-12.30pm

Monday 31 July 2023 from 10.30am-12.30pm

Bookings essential via Council’s What’s On page.

It’s time to test

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District is encouraging people who have never been tested for HIV or haven’t had a test for more than a year, to get tested as part of HIV Testing Week.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks your immune system. Without treatment HIV can cause AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). With the proper treatment, you can continue living a long and healthy life with HIV.

You are at risk from HIV if you are sexually active or share needles. The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is by getting tested. And testing has never been easier.

Tests are available at your local GP or sexual health service. There’s also Dried Blood Spot testing kit which is private and discreet and there’s no need to visit a doctor. The test is delivered in the mail and results are then sent by text, email or over the phone. Alternatively, you can choose Atomo, a finger prick self-testing that provides results in 15 minutes and is available from some pharmacies.

Short St Sexual Health Service (at St George Hospital) is available for those who can’t easily access GPs.

To find out where to get tested call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

You can also visit the NSW Health website for more information about testing and prevention.

For more information about HIV in different languages, please visit the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service.

Sam Elmir 0410 654 310 selmir @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Colleen Symington 0409 546 202 csymington @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Mayor Nick Katris 0419 402 191 nkatris @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Nick Smerdely 0431 646 321 nsmerdely @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Lou Konjarski 0421 188 896 lkonjarski @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Natalie Mort 0499 522 200 nmort @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Nancy Liu 0400 681 188 nliu @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Elise Borg 0477 222 089 eborg @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Ashvini Ambihaipahar 0434 494 231 aambihaipahar @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Peter Mahoney 0419 374 727 pmahoney @georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

& mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

f georgesrivercouncil

i grcouncil

y Georges River Council

Hurstville Mon to Fri 8.30am-5.00pm

@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au

Kogarah Town Square, Belgrave Street, Kogarah Mon to Fri 9.00am-6.00pm Sat 10.00am-4.00pm Sun 10.00am-1.00pm

Blakehurst Hurstville Kogarah Bay Mortdale Peakhurst