FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

Recognise this logo? Since the first Australian club was formed in Lismore, New South Wales in 1947, the Lions Club has grown into Australia’s largest service club organisation. One of our local clubs, the Lions Club of Burnside, celebrates a milestone of 60 years in 2022!

For the past six decades, the Lions Club of Burnside has been serving their community through fundraising, creating resources for aged care facilities and hosting social events. To discover more about the history of the Lions Club of Burnside, you can attend 'The Story of the Burnside Lions Club' event at Burnside Library on Tuesday 24 May at 2 pm.

For further information and to register visit: https://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Whats-On/Eventbrite/The-Story-of-the-Burnside-Lions-Club-BL-260869035307

Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux brings you this week's Burnside Highlights, including:

✅ Bell Yett Master Plan, as chosen by the community, endorsed by Council on Tuesday
✅ Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget public meeting to be held Thursday 19 May at 6 pm (engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/2022-2023-draft-annual-business-plan-and-budget)
✅ Draft City Master Plan out for consultation until Friday 20 May (engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/connecting-people-to-places-copy)
✅ Free architectural advice service now on offer to the community (bit.ly/ArchitecturalAdviceBurnside)
✅ And much more!

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

The Dulwich Plant Nursery was located on the corner of Cleland Avenue and Mellington Street in Dulwich and was known by locals as ‘Grant’s Nursery’. John Grant purchased the land in 1857 and established the nursery in the same year. His son, Stephen Garforth Grant, continued the business until 1924. Stephen was also a Councillor at Burnside District Council from 1904 to 1929. The nursery specialised in vegetables and flower seedlings and is believed to be the first nursery in the area. The house and nursery have since been demolished.

Photograph: Stephen Grant and family at their home, 1908. The nursery is believed to have been at the back of the house.

Did you know that there is a memorial to US President John F Kennedy in the City of Burnside?

The John F Kennedy Memorial Garden on the corner of Magill and Gurrs Road, Beulah Park was created in 1964. Eastwood resident John Hennessy approached Council and suggested a memorial rose garden be created to commemorate the life of Kennedy, who had died in 1963. Hennessy, originally from England, was inspired by Kennedy and considered him a role model. He fundraised £1500 for the memorial garden and organised for some materials to be donated by local businesses.

The choice of roses was inspired by the rose garden at the White House, which President Kennedy redesigned in 1961. The copper plaque of Kennedy featured on the wall of the memorial was sculptured by artist Voitre Marek and was the first plaque of this nature to beaten out of copper in South Australia.

Images: News Review, January 1965 and City of Burnside.

Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux brings you this week's Burnside Highlights, with a number of announcements:

✅ Draft City Master Plan approved by Council, soon out for community consultation
✅ Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget proposing rate rise after two-year rate freeze
✅ Magill Village Project progressing on schedule
✅ New all abilities playground sign at Glenunga Hub
✅ Native Tree Giveaway now open for the community
✅ George Bolton Swimming Centre Burnside and Tusmore Wading Pool closed from Monday 2 May.

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Despite a six-month COVID delay, powerhouse soprano Mirusia is letting nothing hold her back from performing at The Regal Theatre this autumn.

Born to Dutch parents in Brisbane, Mirusia has been described as the “Angel of Australia” by the iconic André Rieu, who took Mirusia under his wing only weeks after she graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2006.

Mirusia’s aunt played a pivotal role in launching the soprano’s career, having called Rieu to tell him about her niece’s remarkable talent. Rieu found Mirusia’s music online and within weeks was touring alongside her and the Johann Strauss Orchestra internationally.

While Mirusia’s career has gone from strength to strength since, music has always played a prominent role in her life ever since a young age.

“When I was about four-years-old I had to go to kindergarten and I could only speak Dutch, and so to teach me English my parents bought kid’s music cassette tapes and played them for me,” Mirusia said.

“The thing they quickly realised was that I wasn’t just learning English, it was that I could actually sing all of the songs in tune after only listening to them once or twice. From there in primary school I would sing in the choir, volunteer to perform the anthem in assembly, and in high school I performed in musicals. If music hadn’t been in my life as a child, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Although being a country artist had originally been Mirusia’s aim, she found her voice didn’t align with the genre and was more suitable for a career in classical crossover.

“To this day I still love country music and I love all of the Australian country artists. I very much respect what they do because it’s a very difficult genre to master,” Mirusia said.

After over 10 years of touring with André Rieu, Mirusia has since established a successful solo career, which the artist found time to focus on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was actually in Adelaide in March 2020 when my promoter called me and said ‘hey, your concert in the Barossa is cancelled, so head home and hopefully this will blow over in a couple of weeks’, and as we know it didn’t,” Mirusia said.

“I’m a silver linings person and realised it was a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with my daughter, going for walks in the park and having picnics. Rather than being on the road I had that time to spend at home.

“I also had time to record two albums and a live DVD, so the pandemic afforded me time for things I wouldn’t normally have time for. I think for all of us it was a time to reflect on what was important.”

Mirusia is now having a bumper 2022, which she described as “three years of touring rolled into one” as she travels nationwide to catch up on a variety of postponed shows. This includes her performance at The Regal Theatre on 20 and 21 May, which was postponed from 10 and 11 December 2021.

“I am so excited to perform here [The Regal Theatre] for the first time. There’s something for everyone in this show, there’s different genres: classical, classical crossover, musical theatre, pop and so much more,” Mirusia said.

“We’ve got local artists from Adelaide in Amicus Strings and Emma Kavanagh, our wonderful soprano. We’ve got artists coming from Brisbane and my musical director Shane Calderbank as well. It’s really going to be a wonderful event and I can’t wait.”

You can see Mirusia – Live in Concert at The Regal Theatre on Friday 20 May and Saturday 21 May. Tickets are available online at www.theregaltheatre.com.au/event/mirusia-live-in-concert/

In the early 1900s, Australia entered ‘The Walking Craze’ and competitive walking events were scheduled weekly across the country.

This photograph shows the scenes of Glen Osmond along the route of a 22 kilometre walking race between 22 share brokers in 1903. A crowd of over 2,500 people watched the share brokers when they walked through the city. The winner was N. Cox, who won with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds.

Photograph: Glen Osmond Walking Race 1903. State Library of South Australia, B 8338.

Burnside Community Centre is excited to offer a new art therapy program to residents that will improve their wellbeing and develop their art skills, beginning from May 4.

Run by local artist Eksha, the 10-week course will allow participants to work with watercolours to paint abstract flower settings to reduce anxiety, increase creativity and alleviate stress.

Eksha has been painting for many years and has found art to be a calming influence during difficult times. This includes during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she experienced depression and anxiety while her husband was stuck overseas and could not be with her and their two young children.

Eksha's goal now is to serve the community through art, which she hopes will help people to feel more in control of their lives and relieve anxiety and depression.

The Art Therapy sessions will occur every Wednesday 3 pm - 4 pm from 4 May to 6 July. You can book your place at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/art-therapy-in-the-corner-room-tickets-309211097717

Stonyfell House was originally a three-roomed cottage constructed in 1838 of creek stone and timber. Stonyfell Vineyards founder Henry Clark and his business partner Joseph Crompton purchased the house in 1858. It was a much-loved family home, remaining in the Crompton family for several generations until 1978. It is local heritage listed and remains standing today.

The area of Stonyfell was named by Annie Montgomery Martin, the fiancée of Henry Clark. A ‘fell’ is a term used for barren or uncultivated high ground.

Photograph: View of Stonyfell House and outbuildings, Stonyfell circa 1915. Burnside Local History Collection.

Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux brings you the Burnside Highlights for this week, with a number of updates for you:

✅ Council voted in favour of creating a permanent memorial plaque in memory of Bob Parr at The Regal Theatre
✅ Burnside Community Centres Fit and Fab class raised $1,500 to support flood victims in NSW and Qld
✅ George Bolton Swimming Centre Burnside and Tusmore Wading Pool closed for the season from Monday May 2
✅ Anzac Day dawn service will return to the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial at Rose Park.

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au