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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.

Daisy Maud Salotti (1889-1970) was a generous benefactor who bequeathed funds to the Dulwich Senior Citizens Club (now known as the Dulwich Community Centre). These funds were used to extend the Club in 1974, including the addition of a hall at the rear of the original house. The Centre’s hall is named in her honour.

Daisy was also an accomplished pianoforte player, and through a bequest of $6,000 to the University of Adelaide, established the "Daisy Burmeister Salotti Pianoforte Scholarship" for students taking piano as their chief practical study. Daisy passed away in August 1970 and is buried at Glen Osmond Cemetery.

Coralie Soward was a trailblazer, becoming the first female Elected Member of the City of Burnside in 1968. Later, from 1979 to 1982, she served as Mayor. In recognition of her dedicated service, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1999 for her contributions to social welfare and health organisations, as well as local government. In honour of her contributions, the Coralie Soward Hall at Burnside Community Centre was named after her.

Dorothea Black (1891-1951) is one of Australia’s most highly recognised modern artists. Born and raised in Burnside, she studied at the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts and the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London. Modernism was not always popular, but Black continued to paint, exhibit and teach modernist art principles throughout her life.

She painted from her house in Magill, painted landscapes of the Adelaide Hills, taught at the School of Arts and Crafts, was on the committee of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts in 1938, vice-chair of the Contemporary Art Society of South Australia and was an active member of the Australian Labor Party. She worked across mediums – watercolour, oil, still life, portraiture and landscapes. Dorrit is buried with her family at the Historic Magill Wesleyan Cemetery.

Photograph: Dorrit Black, 1921, photograph by Judith Fletcher.

Mary Penfold nee Holt was born circa 1818 in Edmonton, England. In May 1835, Mary married medical student Christopher Rawson Penfold (1811-1870). In 1844, Mary, Christopher and their daughter Georgina migrated to South Australia and purchased land in the Village of Makgill (now known as the suburb of Magill). Winemaking on the Magill property began in 1847, with the wine intended to treat Christopher’s patients. Mary assisted in this process, supervising workers and completing the bookkeeping.

After Christopher died in 1870, Mary became the sole owner of the vineyard. Under her care and with the support of vigneron Joseph Gillard junior (1836-1927) the business thrived. According to newspaper articles of the time, all blending of wines and the selection of grape varieties was done under her direction, according to her judgement and taste. At age 77, Mary died on 3 December 1895. Mary had a significant role in pioneering the company and is worthy of recognition as a pioneer vigneron.

Pictured: Mary and Georgina Penfold, circa 1850. Courtesy of Geoffrey Bishop.

Last week we were thrilled to be named a Tree City of the World for a fifth year running, and we have plenty coming up in the next few weeks to get excited about! Find out more in this edition of Burnside Highlights with Mayor Anne Monceaux.

Do you know where this olive grove is?

Hint: The olive trees are believed to be remnants of Sir Samuel Davenport’s olive plantations. Sir Samuel Davenport (1818-1906) of Beaumont House, is responsible for the proliferation of olives in the Burnside area. A nearby road, Olive Grove, takes its name from these trees which grow to its north.

Answer: The olive grove is located in Hazelwood Park. Olive Grove (the adjacent street to the western side of the park near Greenhill Road) was originally part of the Hazelwood estate owned by the Francis Clark family and was named in 1935 after the olive plantation in this area. This land at Olive Grove was subdivided for houses in the 1930s.