There's a lot to feel Happy About - Story Factory

 

There's a lot to feel happy about. As we compiled the list of news for this newsletter, we were struck with how much there is to feel glad about. Celebrating amazing people and the wonderful things they create is an incredible privilege and one we’re very conscious of. We feel that all the more seeing the terrible situation with COVID-19 in India right now. Many of our students have family members affected and our thoughts are with them and their families. It’s also the month of Ramadan and we want to wish our students and staff who are observing their holy month - Ramadan Mubarak! There’s also been celebration of a different kind at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, a festival of ideas, words and engagement. The wonderful diversity of voices and perspectives was a gift and a challenging but joyful reminder of the power of the written word. We hope this month you encounter writing that makes you think, as our students' writing does for us every day. Onwards,  Story Factory Cash (front) and his buddy proudly displaying their writing. Image by Jim A. Barker. CASH’S STORY   Redfern Jarjum College is one of our neighbours in Redfern,  and our Storyteller and resident Speech Pathologist Tommie has done a fabulous job in building the confidence of the kids in her workshops, reunited once again with our volunteers in the classroom. In the small group of 8-10 year olds in the class, one student, Cash, stands out because of his boundless enthusiasm. Cash is always eager to share his work, and to verbalise his ideas, but his challenge is getting those ideas onto the page and actually writing. READ MORE Cash and our storyteller Tommie presenting his writing to the class at the end of term. Image by Jim A. Barker. STUDENT WRITING - MY ICE-CREAM STORE, BY CASH   I am Cash, I run Cash’s ICE CREAM STORE there are flavours in my freezer you have never seen before! eight amazing creations too delicious to resist why not do yourself a favour, try the flavours on my list: rat poop cockroach licking hairy legs man poop bug poop rat and bat poop rat vomit poop and pee. - From our 'Food, Glorious Food' creative writing program READ MORE STUDENT WRITING MEET MEL We are excited to announce that Melissa Jimenez, our new Volunteer Manager (Communication and Coordination) started with us recently, and many of our volunteers have already had a chance to meet her. Mel comes from a background in disability support and running volunteer programs for university students. She’s passionate about social justice, mental health and working with young people, and we’re thrilled to have her join the team. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING VIV WINS AGAIN Vivian Pham continues her run of award recognition. She has been awarded Best Young Australian Novelist by The Sydney Morning Herald and the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year at the ABIA awards - an extraordinary achievement, and so well deserved. Viv is a graduate of our Year of the Novella program and wrote the first draft of The Coconut Children as part of that program. We can’t wait to see what she does next! BUY THE BOOK STELLA KEYNOTE In a keynote speech at the Stella Prize announcement recently, writer, academic and our board member, Amy Thunig, reflected on the importance of storytelling.  We love everything she said, but this particularly stood out to us. "Storytelling is a significant way of growing a community, of building up accomplices and solidarity, and whilst it is through information we might come to know, it is through storying we might come to understand." READ MORE BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE Our very own Storyteller-In-Chief Richard Short has published his second collection of poetry Our Tongues Are Songs. You can order a copy of this haunting and hopeful collection here. Weave Youth has created and facilitated a Youtube Podcast series for Youth Week 2021, called 'What Is Your Utopia?' It’s a series of conversations with young people from across the city, sharing their vision for the change they want to see in the world and in their communities, and how they can bring about that change. You can view them here. Podcasting agency Audiocraftfest is offering a free all-day workshop for culturally and linguistically diverse young people (aged 16 - 24) living, working, or studying in the City of Sydney. Spots are limited, apply here.  Hachette Australia, along with the Richell family, have launched the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers for 2021, in partnership with the Emerging Writers’ Festival. This prize was designed to help an undiscovered writer with talent and ambition to tell a story. Writers do not need to have a full manuscript at the time of submission, though they must intend to complete one. The winner will receive $10,000 in prize money from Hachette Australia, and a year’s mentoring with one of Hachette Australia’s publishers. Read more and apply here.

Funding for Junction Court Revitalisation - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

10 May 2021

Shoalhaven City Council and the CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee have congratulated the NSW Government for recently announcing $935,434 in funding for the revitalisation of Junction Court in Nowra to encourage an enhanced multi-purpose space for community use.

In conjunction with the current preparation of a new three-year Action Plan funded by the Nowra CBD Revisitation Strategy Committee to help guide their activities, Shoalhaven City Council prepared an application for a grant under the NSW State Government "Your High Street Program".

Mayor Amanda Findley said Councillors and the CBD Revitalisation Committee were thrilled that Junction Court will undergo improvements to make the area more pedestrian-oriented.

“Following on from the successful recent ‘Nowra at Night’ event that was held in the space, we are all delighted to hear Junction Court will undergo a transformation to allow a better space for ongoing future events and people to gather, along with more space for pedestrians to move through the space.

“The addition of seating, tables and a play zone will encourage the community to use the space and to come and spend more time in the Nowra CBD,” Clr Findley said.

The Your High Street program is a $15 million NSW Government initiative to support councils across NSW to make permanent improvements to the amenity and functionality of their High Streets. The program recognises the importance of streets as public spaces in strategic centres to support community and economic recovery.

Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee Chair, James Caldwell was pleased with the announcement that the Junction Street application for the High Street Program was successful and was optimistic about the impact it will have on local business. On behalf of the committee Mr Caldwell thanked the NSW Government for the grant and congratulated council staff with their preparation and subsequent successful grant application and noted that the Committee will also finalise their new Action Plan for their activities in the CBD in coming weeks.

“Activating the Junction Court area and giving the community places to meet and spend time is an important step towards supporting local businesses in the Nowra CBD.

“The aim of the project is to boost local business and create better public spaces for the local community in the Nowra CBD.

“We look forward to the commencement of works and in turn, seeing the public enjoy this lively space”, Mr Caldwell stated.

Works are expected to commence in coming months. Visit Council’s website for project updates.

The successful ‘Nowra at Night’ event held at Junction Court in April.

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Have your say on the future of the Shoalhaven - Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget - 2021 / 2022 - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

10 May 2021

Shoalhaven City Council is inviting the community to have their say on the services, programs and projects Council has planned for the coming financial year.  

Shoalhaven City Council is seeking feedback on the Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan and Budget – 2021/2022 which includes Council's proposed Fees and Charges. 

The draft Delivery Program outlines how Council is working towards achieving the community’s aspirations and long-term vision for our City.  

In the coming financial year Council has over 450 proposed projects to be delivered across the Shoalhaven.  

The following major projects are included in the draft Delivery Program for 2021/2022:   

• Shoalhaven Community & Recreation Precinct (SCaRP) 

• Sanctuary Point Library 

• Nowra Riverfront Precinct 

• Material Recovery Facility 

• Far-North Collector Road 

• Bay and Basin Skate Park 

• Boongaree – Stages 2, 3 and 4 

• Resource Recovery Facility 

 Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said, “The draft Plan outlines how Council is working towards achieving the community’s aspirations and long-term vision for our City”.  

“Council is committed to delivering valuable infrastructure and services which create a safe and attractive community for people to live, work, stay and play,” Clr Findley said. 

“Council is planning for our future City where sustainable growth, development and environmental protection are managed to provide a unique and relaxed lifestyle,” Clr Findley said. 

“This year Council has made it easier for the community to find proposed projects in their area with the inclusion of 85 highlighted proposed projects on its website using the My Area map search function”, Clr Findley said.  

Feedback will close at 5pm on Thursday 27 May 2021. 

To have your say or find out more visit Council’s Get Involved page.

To see selected capital works projects close to you, check out the My Area map search on the Shoalhaven City Council website.

Exodus From Sydney and Melbourne in Late 2020

 

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NSW Transport Heritage Update

 

S P E C I A L   P R E - S A L E   O P P O R T U N I T Y Western NSW Tour | June 2021 Dear Supporter,   Following a successful relaunch in March and subsequent tour of Southern NSW in April, Transport Heritage NSW is pleased to announce the return of locomotive 3801 to Central West NSW! This will be the first time 3801 has visited the region since 2007! During 3 - 14 June, you can experience steam train rides with 3801 in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo, or join one of several one-way transfer trips, including from South-West Sydney to Lithgow, or from Orange to Dubbo via Parkes. Book now before it's too late! As a member and supporter of Transport Heritage NSW, we're pleased to provide you with the opportunity to secure tickets before they go on general sale at 12.00pm, Wednesday 12 May. To see a full list of events and to book, simply click below.   BOOK 3801 CENTRAL WEST EVENTS

View this email in your browser. Copyright © 2021 Transport Heritage NSW Our mailing address is: Transport Heritage NSW PO Box K37 Haymarket, NSW 2015 Australia

Vote Now - Six Shoalhaven Towns are Finalists for NSW Tourism Town Awards - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

7 May 2021

Six Shoalhaven towns including Berry, Culburra Beach, Huskisson, Kangaroo Valley, Sussex Inlet and Ulladulla have been shortlisted for the first ever NSW 2021 Top Tourism Town Awards. Shoalhaven towns will be running alongside 36 other ambitious towns across the state to take out the prestigious award of ‘top tourism town’ in two categories based on population size. The NSW Top Town Awards powered by Business NSW will showcase the value of tourism to the towns and communities across New South Wales and demonstrates the locations on-going commitment to increasing visitation to the destination.

Shoalhaven City Council’s Tourism Team called out to Business Chambers and Tourism Bodies, and then worked together on each towns’ submission which includes a self-drive itinerary, 500-word editorial piece, 2-minute video and key images which are showcased on the awards site for visitor inspiration. The award submission aims to highlight each towns amazing visitor experiences and demonstrates the collaboration with tourism operators, businesses, and the local community to drive the visitor economy.

With only one week to vote, locals are encouraged to jump online and have their say. Voting is restricted to one town per category here, with Berry, Culburra, Huskisson, Kangaroo Valley, Sussex Inlet in the population under 5,000 category and Ulladulla in the population over 5,000. Voting closes on the May14 with one top town winner from each category announced by Hon. Stuart Ayers, Minister for Tourism, Investment & Jobs at the LGNSW Destination and Visitor Economy Conference, Port Macquarie on the 27th of May at 9.30am.

Amanda Findley, Mayor Shoalhaven City Council says: “All our towns and villages in the Shoalhaven are tops, but having six finalists out of 36 around the state is fantastic. Now it’s time for us to get behind them, whichever one is your favourite, and vote for the win!” 

Sustainable Living Blacktown - May 2021

 Sustainable Living Blacktown - May 2021

This month in Sustainable Living Blacktown:

• is your home ready for winter?
• safe disposal of problem waste
• Get the Site Right blitz
• look after your worms in winter
• protect our biodiversity
• World Migratory Bird Day
• World Bee Day

Keeping your home warm can lead to high electricity bills. This is a result of rising energy prices and spending more time inside during cold days and nights. Now is the time to prepare for the upcoming winter months and gather information and ideas to help you heat your home efficiently.

Blacktown City Council has partnered with Australian Energy Foundation to provide our residents with independent and personalised advice on energy efficiency.

Use these tips to maximise efficient heating in your home: 

• seal the draughts around your home, to stop cold air coming in and warm air leaking out
• ensure windows have coverings such as curtains, to help insulate the home
• check your ceiling insulation for gaps and correct thickness
• arrange a maintenance check for your air-conditioner or heater and clean the filters to ensure optimum efficiency
• set your air-conditioners to 18⁰C-20⁰C (heat setting) for a comfortable temperature that won’t require as much energy. Each degree higher leads to about a 10% increase in running cost!

Take the opportunity to phone Australian Energy Foundation for a free energy consultation and you will automatically enter the draw to win a free on-site home energy assessment worth $300. Call 1300 23 68 55 or book here by 10 June 2021.   

Have you checked your smoke detectors recently?  Before winter sets in, take time to ensure that your smoke detectors are working properly. You may need to replace any faulty smoke detectors or batteries, and dispose of the old ones.

Our mobile community recycling service is a safe and easy way for you to recycle and safely dispose of household waste, such as:

• smoke detectors, gas bottles, fire extinguishers
• household and car batteries
• old cooking oil, motor vehicle oils and paint
• fluorescent globes and tubes.

To book, visit the mobile community recycling service.

Enter your details under the ‘book a free pick up’ tab to receive a collection date and instructions on how to place items for safe and easy collection.

Download the B informed app to find out how to correctly dispose of an item, receive reminders to put out your bins and contact us to book a clean-up. Our waste app is your one stop shop for all of this and more, and can be downloaded for Apple and Android devices on this link.

This May, councils across Sydney are participating in an educational and compliance Get the Site Right blitz.

Get the Site Right focuses on erosion and sediment control on building and construction sites. The aim is to help ensure builders and home renovators keep sand, soil and gravel under control.

Sediment run-off can contain building materials such as cement, sand and soil, including various clays. These materials mix with water and enter the stormwater drains. The drains run into our creeks and rivers. The clay in the runoff can trap nutrients which cause algal blooms that harm aquatic plants and animals.

Council officers will visit building sites to ensure controls are in place. They will also check for instances of water pollution. These visits are in addition to the ongoing program of random inspections.

See a site that's not right? Report pollution incidents to Blacktown City Council on 9839 6000 or the Environment Protection Authority’s 24/7 environment line on 131 555.

Find out more about sediment controls here.

When compost worms become too cold they eat and reproduce less. This can lead to food scraps in the worm farm breaking down more slowly and becoming smelly.

If the inside temperature of the worm farm falls below 5˚C, worms will start to freeze and die.

Help prevent your worms from freezing by:

• placing your worm farm undercover instead of out in the open. A carport or patio shelter works well
• bringing your worm farm into the garage or house on particularly cold nights
• insulating the worm farm, using an old blanket, towel or polystyrene box.

Blacktown City Council runs monthly introductory workshops on composting and worm farming, which include troubleshooting some of the most common worm farm issues. Join us, and you will also have a chance to ask other questions you may have. If you are interested in coming along, simply register through our Eventbrite page.

Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat. It includes all the different species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms.

All these species are interconnected in some way and play a key role in sustaining our planet. Plants provide oxygen for all life on Earth, and bees and birds pollinate plants to produce fruit, vegetables and nuts. 

We can all play a part to protect and sustain biodiversity. 

Here's what you can do:

• plant native plant species in your backyard as a food source and shelter for local wildlife
• click here for more tips on how to make your garden wildlife-friendly
• if you are a Blacktown City resident, get your garden started with 2 free plants from Council's nursery
• help protect and preserve local bushland by joining a Bushcare group. Download the bushcare calendar and see the list of groups here. 
• keep your cats in, especially at night and report feral animal sightings to FeralScan
• avoid littering and ensure that only rain goes down the drain because the stormwater drainage system runs into our creeks and rivers 
• create an environmentally sustainable home.

World Migratory Bird Day is on 8 May. The theme this year is ‘sing, fly, soar – like a bird!’ 

Currently, 16 migratory bird species visit Blacktown City from Japan, China and Korea. They rely on our wetlands for habitat over winter, flight pit stops and/or breeding sites.

For example, you might see the curlew sandpiper (pictured above) and the sharp-tailed sandpiper at Nurragingy Reserve, Lakes Edge Park or Riverstone Wetlands.

Help protect native birds at home by:

• providing safe shelters, e.g. finches like dense vegetation grasses like kangaroo grass or lomandra
• installing a bird bath
• ensuring cats, dogs and other pets cannot access bird areas.

The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc. (WIRES) does not encourage feeding native birds because it can affect their health and behaviour, and upset the natural balance of species.  

Want to do more? Become a volunteer for the Powerful Owl Project and report your sightings the next time you spot or hear one. The powerful owl is a vulnerable species that is under threat from habitat loss due to increased urban development.

World Bee Day is on 20 May. It celebrates the important role bees play in food production, biodiversity and ecosystems.

Australia is home to around 2,000 bee species. Along with other pollinators, bees play a major role in Australia's agriculture. Some crops are almost completely dependent on bee pollination for fruit and nut production, like almonds, apples and blueberries.

Bee pollination is also important for biodiversity conservation. Native bees pollinate many eucalyptus and angophora trees. These are important species in the Cumberland Plain Woodland native vegetation community, which is found in Blacktown City. Conserving Cumberland Plain Woodland is important as only 9% of this vegetation community remains in western Sydney,

Here’s what you can do to help native bees:

• plant a bee-friendly garden by selecting plants that flower all year round in a variety of colours and shapes 
• avoid insecticides if possible. Some insecticides harm beneficial insects as well as pests.
• provide nest habitats like insect hotels, leaf litter piles or wallaby grass.

Sustainable Living Blacktown is an initiative of Blacktown City Council