Hornsby Residents to Decide on Future Planning

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FREEJULY 2014

Hornsby Residents to Decide on Future PlanningSee page 5

www.duralchamber.org.au

3July 2014 – Dooral Roundup

The Chamber wishes all members and local businesses prosperity for the new financial year ahead.

HoRnsby sHiRe CounCil suRveyA survey by Hornsby Council hopes to get the inside story on what we want done with our Rural Shire. I’m wishing for a big cultural centre where businesses can have exhibitions and meetings and schools can have their musicals and presentations. Sometimes the answers are right in front of us.

GAlsTon HiGH sCHool libRARy FiReThe Bank balance is at around $1,400. Thank you to Galston Post Office, Curves Dural, Claire’s Mobile Spray Tanning, Noni B Cherrybrook, and Pestforce Dural for their kind contributions of goods and services. Businesses wishing to contribute please contact the Chamber.

RounD CoRneR suPeRMARKeT ReZoninG – iT’s sTill noT oveRThis rezoning application had a deadline for completion of 27 June 2014. But for some reason it still has not been finalised. The Chamber is concerned, has never and does not support this rezoning. A master plan, traffic study of Round Corner and outcome of south Dural must be known before we move forward.

MeeTinGsThe ‘Women’s Networking Night’ was abuzz with action as our local business women went about their networking. Great to see so many self starters out our way. Well done to Claire Williams, Dana Dyer, Melissa Thompson, Lori mode and Kathy Carter-Jones who organised the event.

Our ‘SUBDIVISION’ function at the Dural Country Club was well attended and provided a great opportunity to hear from both councils and local resident speakers. We thank Allan Forno from Rotary of Dural and John Turcato from Dural RFS brigade. Thank you, Jill Tourlas principal from Galston High School for the update on how things are going at the School. Thank you Ben Jobberns from Guardian Realty, the Dural Country Club and John Puleo for hosting our great event.

Our next function is on Wednesday 27 August 2014 with Hills Council and their economic development officers.

If you want to know how council is prepared to support you then you better lock this date in your calendar.

Happy New Financial Year!By Rod Cuevas

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I flew to Perth for a lovely 5 day break to visit my son and daughter in law and celebrate her mothers’ 60th birthday.

he weather was the worst I have ever seen in Perth....wet, wild and windy but the company was good and the party went off

well. The security coming off the plane and through Perth airport was very thorough and they had Federal police as well as sniffer dogs for drugs and different sniffer dogs searching for disallowed food items.

The party was right on the winter solstice which is a date I love as the days will now gradually be a little longer.

Perth is still booming with the mining industry and the infrastructure that is being installed with road works, extension of the airport and expansion of the city centre is truly amazing. Because of the sheer size of the state the scope of the works is huge. I wanted to take the road team home with me to fix up our roads in the hills district!

With the end of the financial year comes tax return time. Remember if you are an individual you have until the 30th October to lodge your return and if you operate through a company your date may be different.

We have many great accountants located though this area and if you need any help please don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber for information on them.

A Pleasant BreakBy Judy Pope

EDITOR’S REPORT

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Dooral Roundup – July 20144


COVER STORY

WHY NOW By Tony Jones, Committee of Concerned Residents

Pru Goward – Minister for Planning – NSW Government, recently went public saying that Sydney needed to cater for over 600,000 new residences by the year 2030 and that any area surrounding a railway station would be subject to high rise development, no exceptions.

ouncils are under immense pressure to accommodate new homes – quotas are allocated by State Government and

the expectation is that they will be met. Hornsby Rural Area is bordered, to a large extent, by intense development – Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Berowra.

Shortly we will have a railway station at Cherrybrook and there are a number of SEPP-5 developments already approved around the Villages of Galston and Glenorie.

We have an historic opportunity to replan the Rural Area in such a way as to prevent wholesale subdivision and retain our Rural character. Hornsby Council is visionary and willing to replan the area, but requires our approval to do so.

Say Yes – to protecting our Villages from SEPP-5 intense development by allowing 1 Acre rezoning around them. 1 acre lots make SEPP-5 applications impractical. It’s too hard to put together a 10 acre area for a Retirement Village development – not so with the current 5 acre lots. Say Yes to allowing growth by rezoning 25 acre lots to 5 acres where appropriate. Say Yes to the concept of developing 20 homes on 25 acres with mandatory, park-like surrounds. Say Yes to dual dwellings on 5 acre lots.

Let’s grow but protect our Rural heritage for the next generation. Fill out your Survey and give Council your authority to plan well and avoid mass subdivision.

We have a Council and a State Government that have both indicated they will agree with what has been outlined to replan the Hornsby Rural Area. Let’s do it!

NO Sub-DiviSiON PleaSe By Dennis Merchant

The residents of Galston, Arcadia and surrounding areas, who lived in the area back in 2003 will no doubt recall the enormous fight that happened with a push to subdivide our rural lands of 2HA into 1 acre lots was fiercely debated. But at the end of the day this push was soundly defeated.

he second thing residents have rejected consistently is that to keep the shops and supermarkets in a profitable situation

we need a population increase. This has been roundly rejected

by the great majority of local residents, even in Council’s own survey. The most highly valued aspect of living in Galston district, is the rural lifestyle, sense of rural community, open space, the proximity of bush peace and tranquility, the quiet lifestyle, the village atmosphere, Galston’s proximity to Hornsby/Castle Hill and the city, its community spirit, a sense of safety for kids and low crime rate.

There are plenty of people out there who are eagerly searching for rural acreage, any real estate agent will tell you, and at very good prices. There is no reason or excuse to carve up this area into 1,000 square metre blocks which changes the zoning and leaves it wide open for Council to convert it to 500 square metre blocks’. You can bet your bottom dollar that those people who are trying to subdivide and sell their land will not be living in Galston if they are successful.

The issue of the need to cater for increases in population, is also misleading. All this new development is being centred around railway stations where it can benefit a local workforce by providing the infrastructure for jobs close to home. Again, the Galston area can deliver none of these. To say that this area is in great danger of being selected for subdivision as per Rouse Hill and Kellyville models is absolute and total nonsense in my view and purposely intended to mislead.

So in closing, we ask residents to reject any form of sub-division in the current Hornsby survey.

Hornsby Rural Area Rezoning

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Some very proud young men showed off their carpentry projects recently at a function at the Dural Men’s Shed.

hey have been part of a programme “OUT OF THE WOODS” which has been running successfully for over

12 months, and last month saw the most recent group of graduates receive their certificates of achievement. During the 16 weeks project they made two rocking horses which they have donated to Fairfield Hospital and Ronald Macdonald House, as well as each completing a project for themselves. These included a table tennis table, scooter, cricket bat, baseball bat and bookcase.

This programme aims at giving young guys who are having difficulty at school, a chance to see how they are valued as individuals and at the same time get a sense of achievement through building things with the men at the shed. There are many positive signs from the programme with attitudinal and life direction changes in the youth involved, good feedback from schools and from the men at the shed. Interest is growing in the programme with an increased demand for places from the Fairfield/Cabramatta/Bosley Park Schools .

All enquiries please contact Chris Thomas 0402 478 498 or Anh Nguyen 0408 592 154.


LOCAL NEWS

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Out of the Woods … Into the Shed

“Pie of Origin” erected in permanent celebration of NSW Rugby League.

giant meat pie, weighing half a ton

and capable of spewing hot meaty steam, is being erected in Glenorie as a permanent tribute to NSW rugby league.

The massive Pie of Origin featured strongly in the build up to NSW’s memorable 2014 State of Origin victory, making waves across all major television networks and raising vital funds for Westmead Children’s Hospital. This prodigious pastry is now being erected permanently outside the Glenorie Bakery.

“State of Origin season may last only a few weeks each year, but it is an essential ingredient of the Australian way of life”, states Rob Pirina, footy-mad baker and Pie of Origin originator. “I wanted to offer footy fans and travellers a place where they could come year-round, experience true-blue Aussie hospitality and pay tribute to the institution of mate vs mate, state vs state.”

Standing 1.5 metres tall, 2.5 metres wide, and mounted high above the bakery, the Pie of Origin is sure to be a distinctive landmark on the Old Northern Road. However, according to Pirina, it will also occasionally tour the country to raise money and awareness for various causes. “We are going to take the Pie of Origin on tour each year to raise funds for people in need”, Pirina explains. “It had such a great impact this year ahead of the Sydney State of Origin game; I want to continue the tradition.”

The Glenorie Bakery and Deli, located in Glenorie, is home to the NSW vs Qld Pie of Origin series and the popular Saucy Sauce Day.


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Benevolent Baker beckons Footy Fans with Origin Tribute

With Dan Sutton from 10 News


Local Bush Band, the Inland Navigators, turned their annual ‘shed party with muso mates’ into a Day on the Green to raise much needed funds for the farming communities doing it tough in the drought.

he five band members all play in different line-ups from time to time, so it wasn’t hard to fill the three hour

concert with a variety of quality music,” explained lead singer Eric Pellinkhof. “I built a stage in our garden and we invited 60 of our mates to bring a picnic, enjoy the music and donate to causes close to our hearts.”

The fundraiser was a perfect fit for the seasoned bush band which has been together since 1980 when they played in Dural Musical Society’s production of Reedy River. “Passing the Akubra to raise over $900 was a terrific outcome so we are considering making it an annual event.”

Buy a Bale provides fodder for stock in drought stricken areas and VISE (Volunteers for Isolated Student Education) provides tutoring and home help for children learning via distance education. These families are most affected in drought times when the mother needs to get out of the school room and help on the farm.

“All credit to the Beatles Unplugged with strings attached, Martine Monroe, Dave Mason-Cox, Green Tea Serenade, Springtide, Stay Tuned Choir and Dural Stockfeeds fo providing the hay bales.”

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Local Bush Band supports Buy a Bale & VISE

LOCAL NEWS

More than 30,000 meals are served by Hills Community Care to frail, aged and disabled residents every year and many of those meals are delivered by the dedicated husband-and-wife team of Geoffrey and Margaret Benoit.

he Benoits have been Meals on Wheels volunteers for almost 20 years and they say the service has enriched

their lives. “It will be 20 years in October that Geoff and I have been delivering Meals on Wheels. Over the years we have become very good friends with a lot of clients which is very rewarding,” Mrs Benoit of Baulkham Hills said. “It’s good for us because it gets us out of the house and moving. The clients are always lovely people and it’s special that we can help them, even in a small way,” Mr Benoit said.

A regular client of Geoffrey and Margaret is John van-Tongeren, a 72-year old who has been using the service for over 18 months. “I get 7 meals a week which makes my life a lot easier. The food is always delivered on time, so I don’t have to wait around for the volunteers to come,” Mr van-Tongeren said. John’s experience with Meals on Wheels goes beyond the food. He also enjoys the social aspect associated with the service, especially his friends Geoffrey and Margaret. “When you get to my age it can become a little bit lonely. Having a regular visit from Geoff and Marge has been great and we’ve become good friends. The kindness of the meals on wheels volunteers is fantastic,” John said.

Anyone who is interested in trying Meals On Wheels can find all the information from Hills Community Care on 02 9761 7600 or email [email protected]


Tuesday 29 July Castle Hill Country Club

HILLS GRAMMAR GOLF DAY

We invite you to join the Hills Grammar school community for a great day of golf at the beautiful Castle Hill Country Club.

Date: tuesday 29 July, 7.30am shot-gun start

Venue: Castle Hill Country Club

Cost: $180 per person (includes a gourmet bbQ lunch) or $720 for a team of 4. if you wish to be a part of the day but are not a golfer, you can join us for lunch for a cost of $50 (excluding alcoholic beverages).

reGistration: For more information, or to register visit www.golfdays.com.au/thehillsgrammarschool

if you have any questions please contact Janette beedell on 02 9639 9930

Please note, if you do not have an official Golf Australia Handicap, you will play off the maximum handicap for the day - 27 for men and 36 for women.

We have a number of fantastic Corporate sponsorship packages available. Please contact Janette beedell - [email protected]

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More than a Meal Delivered

L-R: Geoffrey Benoit, John van-Tongeren and Margaret Benoit.


Meetings, Clubs & Congrats

DOORAL HAPPENINGS

THAnK you FRoM syDney’s neeDy The Hills District Annual Anglicare Food Drive was a huge success again. Thank you to everyone who contributed, at the supermarket or at home. A special thank you to all the schools in the area that supported this initiative. Children, parents and teachers, Dural Anglican Churches and Anglicare say a big ‘thank you’ on behalf of all the families who this winter will benefit from your generosity and compassion.

nAiDoC WeeK CelebRATions Bunnings will be celebrating NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week on Sunday 13th July 2014 from 11:00am with representatives of our local Darug Community and Oakhill College students. Together with Bunnings team members there will be a Welcome To Country Ceremony performed at 11:00am by Harrison Goddard. Examples of indigenous art work donated for the occasion will adorn the artefact table together with many amazing implements, tools & weapons – and there is a story for each of them.

THe GReAT FeTe Everyone’s welcome to this great day out for all ages at Samuel Gilbert Public School, Gilbert Rd, Castle Hill. With 15 fantastic rides, plus stalls, games, food court, trash n treasure, face painting, prizes, sweet treats, novelty events, music, dance and much more. Held on Sunday 17 August from 10am. Details at www.greatfete.com.au

sPAnisH Wine eveninG A Wine Tasting Night will be held at Delishus Restaurant Wednesday 16th July at 6.30 pm. The evening includes a 10 course degustation with Spanish wines for $95.00 per person. Numbers limited, and bookings essential. Phone Jose on 4578 6999.

biviAno’s PResenTs A night of entertainment with the latest country music sensation Tori Darke is on July 13 from 6.00 pm. For reservations and enquiries phone 9651 2022.

neWs FRoM sT beneDiCTs Recently the parish was visited by Ellen Borer, a university student who is a volunteer with Catholic Mission. Ellen talked about Rwanda, twenty years on from the genocide, and the continuing struggle for affected Rwandans to recover from those traumatic events. Ellen told us how Catholic Mission is providing practical, spiritual and emotional support to these people.

DuRAl GAlsTon PRobus Club The next meeting is at 10am on 17th July, at The Galston Club. Tom Crow will be speaking on “Stroke Recovery”. Visitors welcome. For details contact Anne on 9653 1004.

ReD CRoss, CAsTle Hill bRAnCH The next meeting is Friday, 11th July, at 9.30a.m. in The Tribute Room, Level 1, Library Building, Castle Hill. New members always welcome. Enquiries 8850 7056. http://centenary.redcross.org.au/stories

THe Hills DisTRiCT vieW Club The next monthly meeting is Tuesday 22nd July at the Galston Club at 11am. The speaker is Dee Doughty who is an Ambassador for Motor Neurone Disease and will speak about this debilitating disease. Cost $22. Bookings are essential, ring 9680 4440 for further information.

GAlsTon vieW Club The July Luncheon Meeting at Dural Country Club, will commence at 11.am on Wednesday 23rd. The guest speaker is Patricia Skehan who will speak on “Bushells Tea and the history of the family”. Visitors are welcome. Inquiries contact Vivien on 9894 1189.

THe PARRAMATTA noRTH RoCKs lAnTeRn Club A wine-tasting evening presented by wine expert Peter Bourne on Wednesday July 30th at 6.30 will be held at the Renwick Centre at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children North Rocks. Cost is $25 and finger food is provided. RSVP: 20TH July. Bookings are essential. Phone Elaine 9639 6159 or Joan 9871 6128 for details.

July 2014 – Dooral Roundup 11

Hands across the Water In January 2015, a group of Hills district residents will be riding a pushbike from Bangkok, Thailand to Phuket (800km’s) over eight days to support “Hands Across The Water”, an Australian based boutique charity that supports at risk and orphaned children in seven different sites across Thailand.

he aim of the ride, apart from having a life changing experience, is to raise money and awareness for “Hands Across the Water”. Each rider

must raise $10,000 with 100 cents in the dollar going directly to support the children. In addition to raising $10,000 each rider must personally fund all expenses, take 10 days off work and ride 800kms in 32 degree temperatures and high humidity. Nine of the this year’s 14 Hills residents riders participated in the the same cause in January 2013 and raised $140,000.

Scott Evans a Glenhaven resident and participant in the charity ride said, “Please support this worthy cause by purchasing tickets to the

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SHOWCASE

charity dinner. The night will include great live and silent auctions, raffles and entertainment provided by the One Hit Wonders.We are reaching out to our local community and business owners for support, either by purchasing tickets or tables for the charity dinner, or for sponsorship and donations of potential live and silent auction items that can be sold on the night to assist in meeting our fundraising target”.

Charity dinner details:Date: Friday 29th August 2014Venue: Lyceum Room – Castle Hill RSLTime: 7.00pm to 12 midnightTickets: $150 per person. Table of 10 $1500

Please contact Scott Evans on mobile 0414 651 327 or [email protected] for any interest or enquiries. For further information on Hands Across the Heart visit https://handsacrossthewater.org.au/

The week of 16 June was a stunner for our great state.

uesday saw the NSW budget return to surplus under the guidance of Premier Mike Baird, unlocking

enormous potential in our electricity assets and putting that money into our roads, rail, hospitals and schools, all crying out for new investment.

Best of all, NSW became Number One Again with a record infrastructure investment in Western Sydney.

Our state now once again is the beacon of hope for all, a shining light of achievement, pride and optimism as we look forward to a glorious future thanks to a team which pushed through physical barriers so strong and tall, it defies all medical logic.

A young eel playing through a rotator cuff injury, dogged determination by a man who dislocated his shoulder and refused to yield, making trysaving tackles, and a leader whose sheer will to drive forward makes you wonder whether his heart is that of Phar Lap.

Who can forget our fullback, whose spiritual guidance and sense of community has been cultivated by the Baulkham Hills community?

Yes, NSW is Number One Again in the most intense sporting cauldron of all.

I know my cousin, who lives north of the border, is always keen to remind me of Queensland’s climate, their beaches and their lifestyle.

True, but in the wonderful words of the Daley (sic) Telegraph…

… Yeah, but we won Origin.

The NSW Business Chamber has welcomed the commitment by the NSW Opposition to review post year 10 education and training should they win Government next year.

he NSW HSC has not been reviewed since 1996 and is failing to meet the education and training

needs of students who are not looking to head on to university. Identifying ways in which to provide a more engaging post year 10 curriculum is absolutely vital, and has the support of the business community across NSW. With youth unemployment rising above 16% in many parts of the state, helping kids navigate the tricky transition from school to work or school to training is absolutely vital in ensuring we can build the workforce of the future. While the Chamber has endorsed the proposals from the Opposition to undertake a wide ranging review of education and training, the proposal to wind back to TAFE reforms implemented by the Coalition would take the system back to the dark old days where TAFE was placed on an uncompetitive pedestal. A fairer playing field between TAFE and private education providers is a framework for better training and qualification outcomes.

The Oppositions proposed roll back to TAFE reforms would be a major mistake and will not help industry address major skills requirements in the future.

Number One AgainBy David Elliott

Education Review Essential By Stephen Cartwright, CEO NSW Business Chamber

OUR STATE

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New guidelines for managing trees on private properties will cut red tape around the removal of trees and make it easier for families to maintain their own homes.

ince the current guidelines were adopted in 2009, a number of changes to local planning laws, as well as

recent changes to laws impacting trees in bushfire zones, have prompted a review of the way trees can be managed in the Hills Shire. The new guidelines will exempt trees less than 6m high and those within 3 metres of any approved dwelling or structure from requiring approval to be removed. An additional 15 species have been added to the exemption list, and a further nine where the tree is less than 10m.

Our new guidelines are a sensible way to allow residents to responsibly manage their own properties and are about creating a balance and being realistic about the impact of trees in the community. They also take into account extenuating circumstances that impact people trying to manage their homes, including for aged, frail and disabled

residents who have trouble maintaining trees.

This isn’t about reducing the numbers of trees throughout the Sydney Hills. More than 50,900 native shrubs and trees have been

given away since 2013 to residents, bushcare groups, schools, churches and planted in parks and reserves.

Residents can view the guidelines on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Cutting Red TapeBy Michelle Byrne, Mayor Hills Shire Council

MAYORAL UPDATE

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Hornsby Shire Council’s innovative approach to safety in the workplace has won first prize in the StateCover WHS Excellence Awards and most efficient Council.

his is a fabulous achievement on

behalf of our dedicated Safety and Wellness team that deserves to be applauded. Winning this award reflects the fact that Hornsby Shire Council is at the forefront of WHS practices and sets an example for other workplaces. The awards recognise the achievements of councils that have adopted initiatives to improve the health and safety standards in their workplace. Hornsby Council’s winning submission came from the Safety and Wellness team, led by manager Amanda Collins.

Ratepayers in Hornsby Shire are getting more value for money than those in the rest of Sydney, with a recent report naming our Council as one of the most efficient in the city. The report listed Hornsby Shire Council as the best in Sydney for its hiring efficiency. Hornsby Shire has one council employee for every 303 residents, tying with the Hills Shire for the Sydney council with the fewest workers per capita.

These efficiency gains were achieved, resulting in a reduction of approximately 10 per cent of budgeted positions in the past few years.

Hornsby Shire Council a WinnerBy Councillor Steve Russell Mayor Hornsby Shire Counci

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Hornsby Shire Council’s Safety & Wellness team, Fiona Goldsmith, Louise Byrne, Amanda Collins and Louise Johnson.

Visit the NEW home of The Hills Shire Council at 3 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills (next door to Crowne Plaza).

More inforMation www.thehills.nsw.gov.au 9843 0555

We HaVe MoVeD

REPRESENTING OUR AREA

The Budget recently brought down by the Federal Government can be described as a tough budget. It has also been a misunderstood budget.

he key message I would like to communicate now is that there have been no cuts to the age pension.

While there has been a lot of scare mongering from the Labor Party, there are no cuts to the age pension. Pensions will continue to go up twice a year, and pensioners will also benefit from the removal of the carbon tax pending its passing in the Senate.

With regard to Concessions, each year the Commonwealth invests significant funding for Commonwealth Concession Card holders to access Commonwealth services at lower costs. This will continue and includes lower Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicine costs, free hearing assessments and hearing rehabilitation and lower out-of-hospital medical expenses.

Other benefits that the budget will provide, but which are not being mentioned in the thunderstorm of misinformation, are that an additional 80,000 places will be available to Australians to qualify for commonwealth funded loans for their tertiary studies.

Low income single parents will benefit from additional payments of $750 for each child aged 6-12 every year. Families, including seniors, will keep the energy supplement even with the removal of the carbon tax which should reduce costs by $550 per household per year.

This may be a tough Budget, but it is also a budget which aims at correcting, in as fair a way as possible, the economic failure of the former Labor Government.

Simply, we cannot continue to live beyond our means.

Residents will be given additional powers to protect their homes from bushfires, with new laws introduced to make it easier to clear trees and vegetation from around a property.

he new rules will ensure we cut green and red tape for residents whose homes are located in designated areas

close to bushland, so they can clear trees and vegetation from their property. Under the proposed new laws people with homes in a bushfire zone will be able to clear trees within 10 metres of their house. They will also be able to clear shrubs and other vegetation, except for trees, within 50 metres of their home. The new rules will also apply to non-residential buildings in designated bushfire zones, including schools, child care centres and hospitals.

The locations of the designated bushfire zone areas – known as a ‘10/50 vegetation clearing entitlement area’ - will be determined by the RFS. Last bushfire season more

than 200 homes were destroyed by bushfires and more than 100 houses damaged. It is

imperative that the NSW Government gives landowners the powers they need to protect their properties from the risk of bushfires, while balancing legitimate environmental objectives.

I also encourage all homeowners to complete a Bush Fire Survival Plan, which can be downloaded from the RFS website.

New Laws for BushfiresBy Matt Kean – Member for Hornsby

Too much MisinformationBy Phillip Ruddock – Member for Berowra

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Dooral Roundup – July 2014 14

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Cost $150. Post to PO Box 2 Round Corner Dural 2158 or drop into Suite 5, 18 Kenthurst Rd Duralfacebook: www.facebook.com/duralchamber, Dooral Roundup: http://duralchamber.org.au/dural-roundup/Visit www.duralchamber.org.au/joinus Email: [email protected] or call 9651 3473

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Apprentices in the Mitchell electorate will have access to $20,000 over the entire period of their training with more support provided during the initial years when it is needed most.

he Trade Support Loans will be provide support of up $8,000 in the first year of the apprenticeship, $6,000

in the second, $4,000 in the third and $2,000 in the fourth.

Apprentices who successfully complete their training will be rewarded. When an apprentice completes their training, 20 per cent of the loan, or up to $4000, will be immediately deducted from the total of their loan.

The Trade Support Loans programme replaces the Tools For Your Trade payment, which under Labor’s administration had become an unaccountable hand out that did little to help apprentices complete their training, because it was only given in the later years instead of when apprentices needed it most.

Trade Support Loans will help more apprentices finish their training and get straight out into the workforce, by providing support across the entire period of their apprenticeship and providing an incentive to complete their course.

The Trade Support Loans programme will begin on July 1. Visit http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/trade-support-loans for further information.

My Facebook page has also been updated, please visit Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell https://www.facebook.com/alexhawkempmitchell to keep informed on all I am involved in throughout the electorate and in Parliament.

The NSW Government has embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild NSW using infrastructure funding from the long-term lease of 49 per cent of the “poles and wires” network businesses.

his will only happen if the NSW Liberals & Nationals win a mandate at the 2015 election. In a historic move

$20 billion in infrastructure funding will be unlocked- including $6 billion for regional NSW. An independent analysis by Ernst & Young, commissioned by NSW Treasury, has found network prices for typical residential customers in Victoria and South Australia have fallen in real terms since privatisation in the 1990s. Network prices have actually been more than 100 per cent higher for NSW’s publicly owned businesses (poles and wires) than in the privately-owned Victorian or South Australian networks. The proceeds from the $20 billion plan includes a second Harbour rail crossing & extending the North West Rail Link through the CBD & beyond to Bankstown, providing one continual world class rapid rail network across Sydney suburb. $2 billion for health and education infrastructure, at least $500 million to improve and build venues to attract major events and tourism, $1 billion to upgrade the road network in regional NSW and $1 billion for water quality & security in regional NSW. This once in a lifetime opportunity will Increase productivity and improve the daily lives of family’s right across the state by addressing the significant challenges that have built up over time through a lack of investment in critical infrastructure.

For more information, and to have your say, go to: www.rebuilding.nsw.gov.au.

NSW into the Future With Ray Williams

Support for Apprentices With Alex Hawke - Member for Mitchell

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The last Chamber function was on the hot topic of subdivision and was hosted by the Dural Country Club.

n a freezing winter night surprisingly the turnout was excellent with business owners and interested locals making the effort to remain

informed about their area.Paul Pixton from the Chamber was MC and after a short welcome from

President Rod Cuevas introduced Allan Forno, newly elected President of Dural Rotary who gave us a short run down on what projects the Dural Rotary are involved in. The Chamber is hosting a golf day with them later this year.

Second to speak was John Turcato, Senior Deputy Captain from Dural Fire Brigade who gave an interesting talk about the rural fire service from a very hands on perspective.

Next up was Principal of Galston High School, Jill Tourlas who updated us with graphic photos of the damage caused by the Galston High Library fire some weeks ago and thanked the Chamber for their fundraising efforts and explained to us where the money would be spent.

Some local businesses kindly donated items to be auctioned to raise more funds for Galston High and Ben Jobberns, Director of Guardian Realty kindly gave up his time to attend the meeting and auctioned the items for us.

Finally we got around to the topic of subdivision and Steve Russell, Mayor of Hornsby Council was first to speak and explained Hornsby Council’s initiative of sending out a questionnaire to residents in rural areas to determine what they would like to do with their land. This will occur in the next few weeks. The Future Planning Officer at The Hills Shire Council Stewart Seale was next and he gave us a rundown on future plans within our other Shire including the cluster subdivisions.

The last two spots were taken by residents Tony Jones and Dennis Merchant who have opposing views on the subdivision plans and both presented their case. Questions were taken from the audience to various speakers and the meeting closed shortly after.

Questions were taken from the audience to various speakers and the meeting closed shortly after.

June Chamber Function

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ROUND CORNER

During the early 1970s the Whitlam government proposed building the second Sydney airport at Galston. Conrad was strongly opposed and was to become the chairman of the Galston Airport Protest committee.

Conrad also involved himself in other local activities such as the foundation of a local entertainment club, known as the Dural Country Club. He was also president of Bungool Golf Course in Cattai which later relocated to Mungerie Park.

In 1980 after a long and successful career with Myer as a Personnel Manager, Conrad fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became his own boss. He purchased a newsagency at Guildford and later a health food shop in West Pennant Hills.

In 1997 Conrad and Lorraine retired to Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands.

Recent years had seen the couple move into MacArthur Village after Conrad suffered a stroke.

Conrad began to deteriorate several weeks ago and died in the early hours of 11th June 2014 in Campbelltown Hospital.

He will be missed tremendously by his wife and family.

Conrad Vincent Beck was born on the 9th August 1929, the eldest of five children. The family lived in Blacktown in a house that Conrad’s father, William, built himself.

e commenced high school at Parramatta Junior Boys High and after a few years he left for the Northern

Territory to work on Gallipoli station breaking in brumbies. Conrad later developed an interest in radio and undertook

a course in radio operation at the Marconi School of Radio. He joined the merchant navy as a radio operator, working on BHP ships transporting iron ore. He travelled to England in 1955 to study Radar at the University of Southampton.

Conrad returned to Sydney in the late 1950’s and invested in 10 acres of land at Dural at £100 per acre. This was the beginning of a very productive time in Conrad’s life, meeting his future wife Lorraine while both studying at Sydney University. They were married on 24th June 1961 in Pymble.

Conrad was then able to fulfil a dream to build his own home at Dural where he and Lorraine raised 2 children.

Conrad Vincent Beck 9 August 1929 – 11 June 2014

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If you drive down the 12 Kms of Pitt Town Road from Kenthurst you will not come to Pitt Town ! You will come to Maraylya, which , incidentally, boasts of one of the oldest schools in the State.

he school was started in 1869, which is when Dural School moved to its present sight.

There are two other roads that will get you to Pitt Town, Pitt Town- Dural Rd, via Cattai Ridge road, and to the south, Old Pitt Town Road, via Nelson Rd and Windsor Rd.

Maraylya has been in the news lately because two new bridges have been built there to cross the Cattia and the Cataract Creeks, replacing two old single-lane wooden bridges.

These new bridges are a great improvement on the old ones because they are higher and in a flood the local inhabitants will not be cut off as often as they were before.

On the eastern end of the Cattai bridge some of the old timbers from the old bridge have been set in concrete as a memorial, along with a

plaque stating that the bridge was opened by Clr. Dr. Michelle Byrne on 9th May 2014

Cattai Creek rises up near the Showground in Castle Hill and meanders its way down under the bridge in Showground road, under the bridge in Glenhaven Road, under the bridge in Annangrove Road, over the causeway in McClymonts road, under the new bridge in Pitt Town road, under the bridges at Cattai Ridge road and Cattai , and at last after 39 Kms of wandering spills into the Hawkesbury River.

It is time again for the June Roughley Memorial Talk. Tom Richmond has kindly offered to tell us about Bar Island which is an intriguing place . Over a hundred years ago there was a Church there and many notable people and buried there. Come and hear all about it at the Arcadia Community Hall ( just near Arcadia School), on Saturday, August 16th at 2 pm.

Free entry and Refreshments, but bookings are advisable. Contact Margaret McKinley on 9651-1495

Congratulations to our Society’s President, Michael Bell, who has been awarded with an A.O.M. in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list. He has worked tirelessly for the promotion of the history of our area, and being a life-long citizen of Arcadia, he has a wealth of knowledge which he willingly shares. He is also the instigator and organiser of the Arcadia Music Recitals for the last 12 years, and is a keen leader of the Men’s Shed down at Rowland Village. Years ago Michael was a teacher at some of our local schools and served on Hornsby Council.

We are indeed lucky to benefit from his expertise.


THE WAY WE WERE

LOCAL PAPERS REPORT, JULY 2014 DURAL AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Pitt-town Road and Cattai Creekby Margaret McKinley.

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After decades of dreaming, a Dural Baby Boomer embarks on a virgin voyage to Waratah Park, home of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.

pisodes of the 1960’s TV series were actually filmed at Waratah Park in Duffy’s Forest. Every month, dedicated

organisers and volunteers (from toddlers to seniors) travel through time and space to regenerate this threatened Australian icon: one since 1987; one from the Blue Mountains. A wall of weeds (thistle, lantana, dandelion and deadly nightshade) challenges their mowing, spraying and planting. Coinciding with “Sorry Day”, Neil Evers (a descendant of the Guringai people) delivers his Welcome to Country and the local Sydney German School supplies an on-site sausage sizzle.

Adjacent to the former helipad (now a duck pond) stands the deserted Ranger Headquarters. Skippy has left the building, so we negotiate the steps down to the former Bush Railway. We trundle along the trails sans rails, now cushioned by a level grade of pine needles. The dimpled face of a sandstone edifice shrouds mysterious caves, perhaps displaying Aboriginal artwork? Ferny foliage frames the native flora: the tentacle-flamed red spider

flower, the fragile native fuchsia and the citrus-coloured banksia. Finally, a Swamp Wallaby bounding past makes my day.

We had ventured back to a place with an uncertain future and thus recalled Doc Brown’s philosophy, “Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one!”

Contact Duffy’s Forest Residents’ Association via www.duffysforest.com to volunteer or donate to help save our Waratah Park.

© 2014 Lou Preston

On Friday 20th June at 6.30pm Galston Community Hall, 37 Arcadia Road, Galston.

few local ladies hosted a “Get to know your local business women’s night” with the

Dural Chamber of Commerce and invited local businesses to join in for an evening with local ladies to share their expertise, experiences and product knowledge while having a laugh with other wonderful local ladies. It was free entry to those who wanted to have a look around and free raffle prizes which most people got to win a prize.

Businesses included mobile spray tanning, Intimo, Norwex, Isogenix, mobile petting farm, B&B’s, architects, chiropractors, knitting, Avon, candles, Jewellery, Pilates & Yoga just to name a few.

Special thanks to Dana Dyer from Intimo, Melissa Thompson from Norwex, Lori Modde & Kathy Carter - Jones for all their help in making the night a success.

by Claire Williams

Have days of Skippy’s future passed?

Local Women’s Networking Night

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OUT & ABOUT

Miss sAiGon – “bRilliAnT, AWesoMe, sPlenDiD”The Oakhill College Musical, ‘Miss Saigon’ is probably the biggest community building exercise in the school’s calendar, with more than 150 staff and students supported by their families involved in this major production. Br Peter Ryan, Principal said: “I was privileged to attend four of the six performances and share with sell-out audiences an outstanding musical and dramatic experience. I was also privileged to hear the comments of an appreciative and often over-awed audience who were freely and sincerely

using words such as “Amazing, Brilliant, Awesome, Splendid, Wonderful” which indeed it was.”

He added further: “The importance of our community gatherings cannot be underestimated for it is here that we visibly see the reality of our community. Over six marvellous nights, almost 2,500 members of the Oakhill Community participated in ‘Miss Saigon’ as cast, crew and audience.

What a wonderful way to give practical expression to our sense of living in community.”

A noble JouRneyEvery year the senior students of Lorien Novalis Steiner School in Dural embark on a life changing adventure overseas. This year the students took a fresh approach to their trip and decided to volunteer for some community service in Vietnam. Social responsibility, a critical mind and a creative heart are key focuses of the Steiner Education philosophy at Lorien Novalis. Class 12, a group of only 10 students, have set a goal of raising $4,000 which they will donate to community projects in Vietnam. The students whilst in Vietnam will undertake work in Thien Phuoc Orphanage helping at meal times and engaging with the children during their stay. Another stop for the students is La Vang Pilgrimage Centre where they plan to participate in the construction of a local hall. The hall currently shares one wall with the local church and requires construction of the other three walls.

To accomplish their fundraising the students have been busy operating a Café at Lorien Novalis School market day and a BBQ at Bunnings in Dural, with more events next term to be held at school. The students are currently seeking support for their efforts.

If you feel you can be of any assistance, please contact Stefan at [email protected] or Patrice [email protected]

SCHOOL NEWS


viCToRy AT CoonAbARAbRAnGalston High School’s amazing equestrian team achieved excellence and success at the annual Coonabarabran Expo. Five of our students recently journeyed into the north west of New South Wales to attend the five day event. There were over 700 competitors, with our team winning the ‘Best Presented Small School’ in the Grand Parade which was judge by Jo Bailey, the well known celebrity hairdresser. Emily Lambert and Courtney Bowd were victorious in the Division 2 Polocrosse and the team of four, which consisted of Emily, Sarah Pernice and Isabella Cofrancesco, came third in the hacking section. Each individual also won a number of awards. ”

Congratulations Galston High equestrian team!

A PoliTiCAl exPeRienCeGalston High School Captains and the Vice Captains attended Young Leader’s Conferences held at Government House and Parliament House in Sydney. These were coordinated by Governor General, Marie Basir and State Member for Hornsby, Matt Kean who offered personalised invitations to attend his Secondary School Leaders Lunch. During the break for lunch, the students were given the opportunity to talk to other school leaders and discuss what various initiatives they had been implementing in their own schools. Afterwards students were addressed by Marie Bashir at Government House and visited the Legislative Aseembly during question time. The opportunity allowed the students to experience the history and culture of Australian politics and the role fulfilled by politicians in the community.

In addition meeting such a great group of young leaders made this day very worthwhile.

THe GReAT FeTeSamuel Gilbert Public School students held a ‘Football Frenzy’ mufti day last month, dressing in soccer, rugby league and other football team colours as part of a fundraiser for their Great Fete. Coloured beanies, stripy scarves and football jerseys were popular on the day. In return for wearing ‘mufti’, children donated raffle

prizes or coins towards the Fete, on Sunday 17 August 2014.

Details at www.greatfete.com.au


Early and heavy snow falls ensure a bumper season in Australian ski resorts and Thredbo is one of the best.

hredbo is known as the most exclusive skiing and snow resort in Australia. It is located deeper into the

Snowy Mountains ranges than other NSW ski resorts and usually has the deepest snow cover. Thredbo Village is a cosmopolitan mixture of Australian and European architecture that caters for everybody with a huge choice of restaurants, cafés, boutiques, hotels, and nightclubs. The après ski scene rocks long into the night.

Thredbo boasts Australia’s longest ski runs and also has the most vertical terrain. There are more advanced skiing runs at Thredbo than the other resorts, and there are plenty of beginner and intermediate slopes available. There are great terrain parks with half pipes and rails to test the best extreme skiers and the Olympic run is one of the most difficult runs in the Country.

Thredbo is a place where the best skiing in Australia can be mixed with great company, fantastic food and loads of entertainment to ensure that you have the best skiing holiday possible.

Okay so who of you can remember that amazing glass of wine consumed on the weekend? It’s not that easy is it!

ersonally if I take it one step further and think back to those delicious wines consumed with family and friends

at Easter, Christmas, Birthdays it becomes quite difficult if not impossible. Fortunately whilst playing around on my iphone recently I believe I may have found a breakthrough and that is via Delectable.

Delectable is a free I phone app that helps you document, share and learn more about your favourite wine. Simply take a photo of a wine label and instantly get ratings, descriptions and pricing. Keep track of your favourite wines or share recommendations with friends. See what’s trending and learn more about your wines via the winemaker, sommeliers and wine critics. Buy wines you love straight from your phone and become your own wine critic.

Not surprisingly this app also works for beer and spirits so it creates the opportunity to have a lot of fun - kind of like a Facebook for wine drinkers!

For full details go to the iTunes store.

Skiing Thredbo

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QUAFF IT TRAVEL

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Shazaam for WineWith Hugh Martin


Invented by two elderly spinsters, the Tatin sisters, this sensuous dessert is perfect for a winters night.

inGReDienTs6 golden delicious or royal gala apples2 tblspns lemon juice200g vanilla sugar30g unsalted butter, cubed250g puff pastry

MeTHoDPeel and core the apples and cut into quarters. Place in a large bowl and toss in the lemon juice and 100g vanilla sugar. Place remaining sugar and 2 tblspns water in an oven-proof frying pan or 25cm tarte Tatin pan over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Increase heat to medium and cook for about 5 minutes until the sugar caramelises and is a light-golden brown. Add the apple, cut-side up and dot with the butter. Keeping the heat very low, cook for a further 5-6 minutes to partially cook the apple. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 190°C. Roll out pastry and cut into a circle slightly larger than the pan. Place over the apple, tucking any excess underneath. Place the pan on a baking tray to catch any juices that may bubble over and bake in the oven for 35 mins until the pastry is cooked and golden. Remove and allow to rest in the pan for 10 mins. Carefully turn the tart upside down onto a large plate.

Serve with cream or ice-cream.

Between the air conditioning, cold winds and drinking less water, our poor skin really gets the run-around in winter.

uckily, there are a few simple things you can do to help keep you looking and feeling your best this winter:

> Only exfoliate once a week not every day. Your skin needs natural oils to protect you from the harsh winter and too much exfoliation can completely strip your skin. Avoid strong soaps and detergents.> Moisturise hands several times per day with a plain natural hand cream to prevent eczema or dermatitis outbreaks> Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep and relaxation - stress ages us! > Eat lots of leafy greens and all the antioxidants you can get your hands on- the Vitamin C contained in these super foods is absolutely essential to collagen replenishment and detoxifying the body.> Make sure you get at least 10-15 minutes of sun each day between 11am and 1pm where the sun is at the right angle to produce Vitamin D.> Keep the bulge at bay by regular exercise and maintain a healthy diet of high fibre, low fat meal choices.

Winter requires a slight tweaking of your health and beauty routine in order to feel and look as healthy as the warmer months.

More at http://www.mix1011.com.au/lifestyle/ winter-health-beauty-tips#EyiLIyugTPEU4LWP.99

Winter Health

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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MA’S KITCHEN

Tarte Tatin

Sir David Attenborough will appear live on stage in Sydney in November in a brand new show titled Sir David Attenborough - The Third Dimension.

pioneer of the latest technological advances in program making, Sir David brings the natural world to audiences

worldwide in ways not dreamt of just a few years ago.Focusing on his latest programs, Sir David will share

his most recent experiences filming the natural world, using the latest technology such as CGI and time-lapse, and showing audiences some of his programs highlights as they were meant to been watched - in 3D.

“Imagine Sir David, in person, on stage, talking about his latest filming expedition and then watching his work in 3D”, said Lateral Events CEO Simon Baggs. “This maybe the largest 3D viewing in Australia, a testament to Sir David’s continuing quest to use the latest technology to bring us closer to the natural world. It will truly be a unique experience.”

Following the sold-out tours of Australia in 2012 and 2013, the new show will provide a completely fresh look at the natural world and an insight into Sir David’s recent travels and discoveries.

Tour Date is Tuesday 10 November Sydney Opera House. For more information contact Ticketek.

The 3rd Dimension

ENTERTAINMENT

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Iconic Australian music festival the Big Day Out is now wholly owned by American company C3 Presents

urthermore, the Texan company, which also runs Lollapalooza, has confirmed the festival’s

cancellation in 2015.This major shift in the live music scene in Australia come less than a year after Maddah, the man behind the successful Soundwave festival, was named the most powerful person in the music industry. But the Big Day Out was something of a disaster this year, with reports of reduced crowds, allegations of unpaid debts to contractors and rumours the event lost between $9 and $12 million.

C3 said in a statement that it is “proud” of the Australian brand and that “we intend to bring back the festival in future years”. Dave Faulkner, from the Hoodoo Gurus, said the change to US ownership may not be all bad, as long as C3 does resurrect the event from 2016. “Hopefully they will succeed and make a filthy big profit, because they will still be employing plenty of people here to run the shows.

Running festivals is a rich man’s game, while they create kingdoms and make grand decisions we can only hope the little people still get some crumbs off the table.”

Big Day Out

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A form of financial leverage where an investor borrows money to invest but the gross income generated by the investment is less than the cost of owning and managing the investment.

he investment generates a negative cashflow until the income rises to exceed the costs, or the asset is

sold, at which point a potentially taxable profit is made if the capital gain on the asset exceeds the accumulated losses. Negative gearing often refers to borrowing for a residential property investment (e.g. a house or unit), which is made available for rent. In most cases rental values are less than the interest on property value, and the investment thus results negative gearing if the investor borrows a large proportion of the purchase price. Borrowing to purchase shares where dividends fall short of interest costs is also called negative gearing. Importantly the tax treatment is the same, and any investment made where the funding costs exceed the income return is referred to as negative gearing

Losses from negatively geared property investments, share investments, and other commercial business ventures are tax-deductible against other taxable personal income. It is important to obtain a depreciation schedule to maximise relevant tax deductions. The cost of holding an investment property can be very tax-effective, especially for high-income earners and it is possible to get the tax back on a regular basis rather than the end of the year by using a tax-variation authority. This can significantly reduce the cost of holding the investment property.

One of the most important numbers every golfer needs to know is the yardage to the pin - without it we’re lost!

or years golfers have relied on yardage tips by bits of painted wood to indicate 100 or 150 meters or little

numbers sporadically placed on sprinkler heads.GPS devices use a network of satellites to precisely tell you where you are and when this is paired with a mapped course will tell you within a meter how far you’ve got to drop one a few inches from the pin.

This is very clever technology, but with Garmin watches, GPS has never been easier to use. Simply walk up to the first tee, tap to start a round and the watch will locate the satellites and ask you to confirm the course you’re standing on and that’s it...away you go. It’ll tell you distance to the front, middle and back of each green, you can go to green view mode and drag the virtual pin around the green if you see it’s placed in a particular position and you can even measure a shot with the tap of a button.

Once you’ve tried one of these watches, you’ll feel naked on the course without one.

Negative GearingWith Wayne Griffiths

Golf is a Numbers GameWith David Reckless

FINANCIAL MATTERSAT THE 19TH

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Should you wish to go through the possibilities, please call us at W. Griffiths & Co Pty Ltd on 9651 2288.Disclaimer: This is general information only. We take no responsibility for any errors, omissions or possible misleading statements. This is not designed as a substitute for professional advice and we suggest that such advice is sought.

CENTURY 21PRIME PROPERTY DURAL

WITH THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY

WE LEASE & SELL MORE

MORE PROPERTIES URGENTLY NEEDED! 9651 5522

When it comes to winter time many people seem to forget that they have a big investment in their outdoor lifestyle equipment.

he last thing you want is the kids and the wife on your back saying they want to swim but the pool is not

ready. Even worse is to turn everything on again in spring to find a green pool and seized bearings on the pumps.

Some simple maintenance now will make sure that things are ready when the kids are:

1. Get the water checked and balance the pool as this not only keeps the pool clear but also helps keep the equipment in good shape.

2. Run the filtration system a minimum of 6 hours a day and turn the chlorinator down to low so you are not producing too much chlorine. This is especially important if you have a cover on the pool as the extra chlorine will cause the cover to degrade and prematurely fail.

3. If you have a solar system, change it to winter mode if your controller has this. If not make sure that there is a timer to turn the pump on for about 5 minutes a day. This not only keeps the pump bearings happy but also stops the solar tubes on the roof from drying out. The potential is dropping a heap of black soot (tealeafing) into the pool when you start up again in spring.

4. Give the inside of the pool shed a good clean and remove any debris or rubbish that could prevent the pump from cooling correctly or cause moisture build up.

To get regular hits and tips on pool maintenance like Dural Poolsmart on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dural-Poolsmart/249518005166552

With the beginning of a new financial year I thought it would be appropriate to discuss three beneficial tips to reduce the risk of investing in property.

y first tip of advice would be to get an independent valuation. Whilst a $50 valuation may save you

money and give you some idea, a full $500-600 valuation, including a complete comprehensive property inspection, will almost guarantee that you do not over pay for your investment. You can also get valuation for properties that have not yet been built. In this scenario the architecture and building plans are reviewed with the corresponding suburb data to produce an accurate valuation.

Secondly, I suggest you take out a building inspection. If you yourself are not in the building trade then you will need to get a full building inspection performed for every property before you purchase. Even if the property you are interested in is a unit and maintained by strata, you still need to get have one completed as you will share that cost.

And thirdly, always conduct a strata inspection. There are many buildings that have $50-100k special levies per unit allocated to repair common areas, such as the external building, doors and windows. If you are stretching your budget to take up the investment, then these costs could make or break your limits given lenders often do not loan for this kind of building work until it is completed.

So if you are considering purchasing an investment property, take your time and perform the above three steps to make sure you get the best value for your buck.

Winter MaintenanceBy Michael Freame, as heard on ABC 702 “Homies” Saturdays 10.00am “The Pool Guy”.

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AROUND THE HOME

Investing in PropertyWith Neil Turrell


Buy your new pump, filter, chlorinator orcleaner this winter and get

FREE INSTALLATION* or Buy a new BBQand get FREE ASSEMBLY* or FREE DELIVERY*

DURAL POOLSMART

Only at

Dural Poolsmart and Spa & BBQ BarnUnit 2 827a Old Northern Road DURAL 2158P 9651 4133 P 9651 1373E [email protected] E [email protected] to KFC Between Dargils Hire & Reece Plumbing*Offer valid for in store purchases only between 1st June 2014 and 31st*Offer valid for in store purchases only between 1st June 2014 and 31st August 2014. Rewards Discount not applicable to this offer.

Mulching around trees can help to maintain the moisture and reduces the amount of watering needed, helps to control weeds and keep the soil cooler in the summer.

t helps in preventing soil erosion, and also prevents light from reaching the surface of the soil, working as

an efficient remedy against weed growth. As the mulch decays, it enriches the soil by adding nutrients to it and acts as a good fertilizer. It helps the soil to retain the moisture preventing evaporation. Mulch is also very commonly used to beautify an area.

There are two types of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulch is prepared using natural substances, like leaves, grass, vegetables etc. It contains natural substances, and therefore decomposes easily. Inorganic mulch is a mixture of both natural and artificial substances and it does not readily decompose. Mulching is beneficial throughout the year; however in winter provide the trees with an extra one inch thickness of mulch.

For advice on mulching or other landscaping queries please contact me at Langland’s Landscape Supplies.

Mulching around TreesWith Katrina Milne

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HARDWOOD FIREWOOD

NOWAVAILABLE

Winter has heralded some sensational winter sales this year!

entury21 Prime Property Dural wrote over 15 million dollars in property sales in one week! They

have also reported more negotiated sales across the board. Both Rural and Residential properties sold in all price brackets from high, medium and low. The highest acreage sold at $4,500,000 and the highest residential sold at $2,100,000!

There is a huge demand for all property types currently. Whilst all types of residential homes are needed now and most needed in the acreage area are properties with in the $1 - 2.5 million sector. If you are thinking of selling in Spring it cold be a wise move to place your property on the market now and beat the more buoyant Spring supply.

Your home could be worth more than you think, the general Sydney market has had 15.5% increase with a lot of media suggesting that there could be some price corrections however our local residential and rural area is still strong with more demand than supply.

If you would like to know more about the current trends or have an updated market opinion call Century21 Prime Property now.

Sensational Winter Sales! With Gaye Wheatley

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REAL ESTATE

The name, Probus Club of Knightsbridge - Glenhaven, a project of the Rotary Club of Glenhaven, supervised by their very active Community Service Committee.

t an ‘interest meeting’ recently 47 potential members attended to launch the provisional club with apologies

for inability to attend by another 15, a resounding success.Once established the club will meet at the Castle Hill Bowling

Club on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 9.30 am until noon. Enquiries email: [email protected]

The Rotary Club of Dural celebrated their annual Presidential changeover at Dural Country Club on Tuesday night 24th June attended by over 68 guests, with many awards handed out to members of our community.

he major award of the night went to a very severely disabled young lady, only 3 years old, by the name of

Avalon Jade Chambers, who with her parents, was presented with a cheque for $18 000 which was raised by local businesses and members of the community, enabling the much needed medical treatment for Avalon, some of which is only carried out in the USA three time per year. During the evening a further two donations of $1,000 each by two very generous guests raised the total to $20,000.

Retiring President John Leeds awarded several community and business awards plus two annual memorial plaques during the evening.

The first official act for incoming Rotary President Allan Forno, was to present outgoing President John Leeds with a PHF Sapphire pin in recognition of Past President John’s three times serving as President of Dural Rotary over many years.

A great night was had by all and Dural Rotary thanks to those who contributed to the appeal, and to those guests who attended the changeover meeting.

TRADIES & PROFESSIONALS


A New Probus Club!

Rotary Changeover

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Club neWs



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Documents

Hornsby Residents to Decide on Future Planning