FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

Join CEO Chris Cowley for this week’s episode of Burnside Highlights, keeping up with all the latest news and events within the City of Burnside.

Did you know that the Burnside Hospital in Toorak Gardens is a War Memorial?

In 1944, Otto Georg Ludwig von Rieben donated his property 'Attunga' to Burnside Council for use as a hospital, with the wish that the Edwardian residence and gardens be preserved. In 1949, the converted residence was opened with beds for 21 patients. In 1956, the purpose built Burnside War Memorial Hospital opened.

The hospital is a memorial to those who have given their lives in service of Australia.

Photographs: Attunga House and the opening of the Burnside War Memorial Hospital, 1956. Burnside Local History Collection.

A five-time Tree City of the World, the City of Burnside has become even greener, with recent figures released by Green Adelaide showing the city’s 2022 canopy cover sitting at 31 per cent!

A significant growth from previous measurements, the canopy percentage grew from 25 per cent in 2018 and 2019 and signifies a massive win for Burnside’s strategic priorities to conserve and enhance canopy cover.

Partnering with Green Adelaide and 18 other councils, the program looks to map tree cover, green spaces, built environment and urban heat across our cities.

Using a mapping system called LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and thermal imagery, the program builds a three-dimensional model of the landscape, including trees and buildings. Vegetation measuring horizontally three metres or above is counted as ‘tree canopy’.

Having planted over 1,000 new trees annually for the last six years, the City of Burnside is excited for future measurements with even greater percentages of tree canopy expected.

City of Burnside CEO Chris Cowley said the investment made by Council into the future of its tree canopy was clearly paying dividends, with an increase in canopy cover that will accelerate in the longer term.

‘We currently have thousands of trees that do not reach the three-metre requirement due to their immaturity. In the coming years, we will see continued growth in our canopy percentage as these trees meet the threshold.’

If you would like to view the online map of all councils involved in the program, you can do so at http://spatialwebapps.environment.sa.gov.au/urbanheat/?viewer=urbanheat.

For more information, watch the latest episode of Burnside Neutral.

LiDAR mapping City of Burnside canopy map

City of Burnside was recently named a Tree City of the World for the fifth time

Join Mayor Anne Monceaux for this week’s episode of Burnside Highlights, keeping up with all the latest news and events within the City of Burnside. Find out more about what’s happening at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Join Mayor Anne Monceaux for this week’s episode of Burnside Highlights, keeping up with all the latest news events within the City of Burnside including the latest move for the Pump Track. Find out more about what’s happening at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au.

Do you recognise this building in Tusmore Park?

The Gilbert Wood Scout Hall was officially opened in February 1939 by Lord Hampton, the Chief Commissioner of Scouts in England, and was created for the First Linden Park Scout Group. It was initially planned to be a modest iron and wood structure, but the Wood family of the wholesale grocery business G. Wood, Son & Company generously donated £400 towards the construction of a brick hall. The Scout Group raised the rest of the funds for its construction.

Today the building is home to the Glenside Lions Bookmart.

Photograph circa 1938, State Library of South Australia PRG 287/1/6/34

🎵 ‘Oh we love to have brekky with Stewie...’ 🎵

A unique cover of the famous Slim Dusty song ‘Duncan’ echoes around the rooms of the Kensington Baseball Club at Newland Park in Erindale.

🎵 ‘Oh we love to have brekky with Stew...’ 🎵

About 40 fellas have squeezed into the clubrooms this morning for the celebration of 10 years of the Men’s Breakfast – a massive cream-covered cake sits in the corner, waiting to be eaten (keep in mind it is not even 9 am yet). Coffee, tea and a sausage and egg meal have already been consumed, lifting the spirits of the early risers.

🎵 ‘We eat in moderation…’ 🎵

An initiative of the City of Burnside as part of the Burnside Home Support Program and with My Aged Care, the Men’s Breakfast has now come together every Monday morning for 10 years to provide mateship, social interaction and general life support to one another.

The laughter and jeering with every song or (inappropriate) joke told can be heard from outside the clubrooms, and the atmosphere felt even further.

As a viewer, it’s hard not to get caught up in the joy and find yourself smiling at nothing and everything all at once.

🎵 ‘We meet at the Kensington Baseball Club, where the atmosphere is great…’ 🎵

A member of the Men’s Breakfast since day one, Burnside resident Graeme said the group dynamic always rang with positivity and was a great social outlet for so many in the area.

Having formed a cycling group with guys he met during the breakfast, Graeme is one of many who has made friends for life at these weekly get togethers.

🎵 ‘I love to have a brekky with Stewie...’ 🎵

Meeting every Monday morning, the Men’s Breakfast is always ready to take on new members, all you need is a Social Support Group referral from My Aged Care and be registered with the Burnside Home Support Program.

To learn if you are eligible for services call the Burnside Home Support Program team at 8366 4193 or visit our website.

🎵 ‘’Cause Stewie’s me mate.’ 🎵

Following community consultation and State Government approval, five locations in Burnside will soon become 40 km/h speed limit areas, with signage to be installed from late March onwards. We also have a number of important engagements available for your feedback at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au, as well as variety of great events coming up including our Harmony Week concert on Friday 22 March. Find out more in this episode of Burnside Highlights with Mayor Anne Monceaux.

Sitting in the tearoom just off from the workshop, the City of Burnside Men’s Shed group gather around the large table, a cool breeze blowing in from across the community garden on Conyngham Street.

Coming together to celebrate the 90^th birthday of longtime member Graham, fellas from all the different daily groups have come to share a barbeque and a yarn.

The smell of sausages, burgers and cooking onions floats over the precinct, while coffees are dispersed, and birthday cake prepped for after. Handshakes are exchanged and happy birthday’s yelled as each member arrives.

Many of these men have been a part of The Men’s Shed program for years and come here every week to partake in woodwork and social activity. Originally strangers, the group forms a tight bond providing social support for one another in a family type atmosphere.

A no obligation community centre developed for those over 65 and living in the eastern regions, The Shed is a space for men and women to come and work on projects or just spend time with others who have similar life experience. An asset of the City of Burnside, The Shed programs are funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to provide subsidised low level support services and programs.

The Shed’s Men’s Program runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday while the Women’s Program is run Thursday mornings with mixed gender in the afternoon.

Margaret Bond AM was the first female Mayor of the City of Burnside, serving in this role from 1975 to 1979. She also served as Councillor from 1968 to 1973, Alderman in 1974 to 1975 and then again as an Alderman from 1979 to 1981.

Throughout her time at City of Burnside she served as State and National president of the Local Government Women’s Association. In recognition of her commitment to the City of Burnside, Margaret was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Margaret Bond Playing Field in Glenunga was named in her honour.