FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

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WELCOME.

This is our media hub of all things Burnside.

A hub for local news about people, businesses and happenings in our community.

You will see some beautiful photos of Wyfield Reserve, one of Burnside's biodiversity sites, at the top right of this page.



WELCOME.

This is our media hub of all things Burnside.

A hub for local news about people, businesses and happenings in our community.

You will see some beautiful photos of Wyfield Reserve, one of Burnside's biodiversity sites, at the top right of this page.


  • Inside Burnside - November 2022

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    It's been a big month here at the City of Burnside, with our new council sworn in last night at the Burnside Civic Centre. We want to congratulate each of our Council Members, both new and returning, and look forward to working with them over the next four years. Meet your new council in this episode of Inside Burnside!


  • Windback Wednesday - Weights and Measures

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    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of the responsibilities of Council was to check up on local businesses. Council inspectors would visit local shops to check that owners were following regulations. Using scales and weights, similar to those in the picture, they would test the shop’s scales to ensure that customers were not being short changed. The scales and weights in the picture are believed to have been used by the Burnside District Council inspectors. They are displayed as part of the Burnside Treasures collection in the Local History Room in Burnside Library.

    Picture: Burnside Local History Collection

  • Backyard Blitz at Mount Osmond

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    Students from Glenunga International High School (GIHS) conducted a backyard blitz for a resident at Mount Osmond recently.

    Each year a group of students from GIHS gives their time and efforts to clean up a yard as part of a year-long program. COVID delayed last year’s event but this year it was back to business as usual.

    Student Wellbeing Leader Andrei Leucuta says the blitz is part of a mentoring program to help students build connections with trusted adults. “We identify appropriate students and match them up with a trusted adult at the school,” he says. “They catch up fortnightly, have a chat, discuss issues and build on their relationship.”

    “They also go on three to four outings each year with elements of service, challenge and reflection.”

    Andrei says participating in the well-established youth program Operations Flinders presents challenge and time for reflection. “We also do a Mount Lofty hike,” he says. “For some students that is a real challenge.”

    The Backyard Blitz is part of the service element. “We used to visit nursing homes and interact with the residents but COVID put an end to that,” Andrei says. “The Backyard Blitz is a safe way for the students to provide a service.” Andrei works with Council each year to identify a ratepayer who is having difficulty maintaining their garden. It is usually an older resident who uses some of Council’s Home Support Services.

    The students and adults then work on clearing scrub, chopping wood, weeding and whatever maintenance is required.

    Adrienne Burns, a Home Support Program client, was identified as needing help to clear her large property at Mount Osmond. “I couldn’t believe how well the students cleared the garden,” she says. “I was thrilled – the students were wonderful and the property looks amazing.”

    Pic: GIHS students clear Adrienne’s property.

  • Windback Wednesday - Burnside Inn

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    The Burnside Inn was the centre of life in original Burnside village – approximately 27 and 29 High Street. The area developed around the Hallett Rivulet (now Second Creek), and in 1863 Caroline Clark and her children opened the Burnside Inn. Caroline’s husband, Francis, had died in 1853, and the family would go on to become significantly involved in South Australian institutions such as the State Children’s Council and The Register newspaper. Henry Warland, landlord of the inn, took over in 1865. Warland ran several other businesses in the area, including a blacksmith shop and passenger coach.

    The Inn was an important meeting place for the community, playing host to election meetings and community gatherings. Sporting clubs, councils and coroners held court at the Inn. Travellers on their way to the hills would also stop here. At some point in the 1870s, Warland renamed the Inn to Burnside Hotel. It was owned for a time by the Edmeades and Co. Brewing Company, who constructed a hotel at 33 High Street in 1883 and also called it the Burnside Hotel.

    Burnside Inn remained as a small single storied building marking the centre of the original Burnside Village, until about 1909 when it was closed as part of a large wave of restructuring of liquor licences, reflecting public opinion on public consumption of alcohol.

    Burnside Inn circa 1873. State Library of SA B4723

  • Carols in the Park returns to Burnside

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    We are so excited to announce that Carols in the Park is back for 2022! After three years away due to Covid-19, our massive Christmas celebration is back in Hazelwood Park on Friday 9 December from 5 pm to 8 pm and we would love for you to join us. There'll be live musical performances, entertainment, food trucks, activities for the kids and so much more. At the end of festivities we'll also be screening the classic Christmas movie Elf on an outdoor movie screen. Find out more at bit.ly/CarolsinthePark2022


  • Do you know how to spot a native bee?

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    Left: A native Blue-banded bee. Right: A European honeybee

    When you think of bees, you think of honey. But did you know that there are hundreds of bee species native to South Australia – none of which live in swarms, produce honey, or have a queen? Meet the native bee, Australia’s homegrown pollinator.

    The bees we are most familiar with are feral European honeybees, introduced to Australia to produce honey and pollinate crops. These bees are the kind kept by beekeepers but have since become feral and produce their own nests in the wild. These nests can often be seen and heard on trees. Individual honeybees are highly social and may aggressively defend their nest by stinging nearby threats. While most people have a mild reaction to honeybee stings and do not require medical attention, some people can undergo an anaphylactic reaction that requires further treatment. In fact, the honeybee is the most common cause of allergic reactions to insects in Australia.

    In contrast, native bees are typically solitary and do not build large nests with their peers, so they can often be so hard to spot. Instead, these bees nest in small holes within trees or in the ground and cover their nest entrances with natural materials such as resin or leaves.

    The great thing about this is that it is very easy to create an inviting habitat for native bees in your garden. You can create something as simple as a bundle of hollow bamboo sticks zip-tied together or something as complex as a native bee hotel! The opportunities to create habitat for these creatures are endless.

    The Blue-banded bee, pictured below, vibrates at high speeds to release pollen – a technique known as buzz pollination. Some local native plants, such as kangaroo apples, require this for efficient pollination. Buzz pollination is also critical for food plants, including tomatoes and potatoes. If you grow tomatoes or potatoes at home, you are likely to be receiving pollination from Blue-banded bees! Other fascinating species include Leafcutter bees, which cut semi-circular pieces of leaves to line and seal their nests, and Cuckoo bees, which lay their eggs in the nests of other native bees – much like their namesake!

    Native bees are calm and gentle compared to their overseas cousins, as they do not aggressively defend their nests as feral European honeybees do. So while it is possible for some native bee species to sting, the risk is far lower.

    At the City of Burnside, we are eager to promote the growth of native bee populations and have supported the creation of several public native bee hotels. We encourage you to create your own bee hotels at home too. The more native bee hotels available across the City of Burnside, the higher chance their populations will grow in our area! Find out more about native bees and bee hotels at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Animals/Native-Animals/Bees

  • A new way to help parents

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    Carol with her children (L to R) Zichen, Zhining and Hanyin.
    The City of Burnside is committed to assisting parents and their child’s development through a new program supported by the State Government, which is designed to help families feel confident in their ability to support their child’s growth.

    Family Initiative Supporting Children’s Health (FISCH) is a series of workshops from local service providers for new parents on topics including social development, safe sleep, nutrition and much more.

    Glenunga resident Carol Zhang, who attended a speech and development session, said the workshop was a great benefit for her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Zhining, who speaks English as a second language.

    “The workshop was really helpful and talked about how to communicate through play and develop my child’s language skills,” Carol said.

    “Rather than playing silently, I learned how important it was to use words when playing with toys – the word association will help to develop her (Zhining’s) language skills. I really learned a lot.

    “By doing this I can improve my daughter’s English and help her to be able to speak it before she goes to school.”

    Upcoming sessions in 2023 include nature play, healthy device usage, early literacy and more.

    This project has received funding from the Department for Education’s Local Government Childhood Community Innovation Grant, administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia.

    To find out more about the FISCH program, please email communitydevelopment@burnside.sa.gov.au or visit bit.ly/FISCHBurnside online.

  • Driven to Volunteer

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    John Bruce retired a few years ago and thought it would be a good idea to help his community in some way. After reading about the need for volunteer bus drivers in the spring Focus newsletter, he signed up.

    “I enquired at the council and the rest is history,” John says. “I have been driving and assisting with the shopping bus and the community cars for two to three months.”

    John, 64, volunteers with the shopping bus every Thursday from 8.30 am until approximately 12.30 pm. “I collect people who are often quite elderly and no longer driving, from their residences and take them to the supermarket.” Shoppers have an hour and a half to complete their shopping then John helps them back on the bus and takes them home.

    “I also take people in the council car to appointments such as doctors, lunches, or hairdressers.”

    “I took one group of passengers to Murray Bridge for a lunch cruise on The Captain Proud.”

    John, of Linden Park, enjoys his work and says the service is appreciated by the passengers. “This gives me a feeling of value and the desire to continue,” John says. “That is the best way I could encourage other drivers. The council too, are most appreciative of the volunteers.”


  • Little Treasures Opens

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    It is that exciting time of the year when the great gift hunt for the festive season has officially begun. Little Treasures and its wide assortment of affordable handmade art and craft gifts will solve all your gifting needs.

    All items are for purchasing and taking on the day in this ever-changing showcase.

    Over 50 artists bring you this opportunity to browse an enormous range including textiles, ceramics, glassware, wall art, jewellery, gift boxes, cards, homewares, wearable art, calendars, decorations, children’s items and more.

    Each item is handcrafted, with regular restocking for variety and freshness.

    This year there are special twilight sessions.

    Friday 25 November and Friday 9 December 5 pm - 8 pm.

    Join us for two special evenings for late night gift browsing with extras. A glass of bubbles on arrival, nibbles, artist demonstrations, live music and more.
    Free entry for you, friends, family, neighbours and bargain hunters!



  • Windback Wednesday - Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial statue, Rose Park

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    The Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial statue in Rose Park has stood for almost 100 years, having been unveiled on Sunday 14 December 1924 by Governor of South Australia, Lieutenant General Sir Tom Bridges. The statue depicts a soldier climbing over the top of a trench and turning back to offer a helping hand to his mate. Interestingly, those with knowledge of weaponry will notice that the bolt is on the wrong side of the rifle. The statue was funded by the Burnside Memorial Committee, which commenced fundraising in 1920. Australian artist Charles Web Gilbert was commissioned to design the bronze sculpture.

    The Ferdinand Barbedienne Foundry in France cast the figure, which is mounted on a granite plinth with bronze plaques bearing the names of 87 fallen soldiers of the District of Burnside. In August 2022, the City of Burnside consecrated an additional 22 fallen soldiers in a ceremony along the Avenues of Honour.

    The Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial (both the Avenues of Honour and the Memorial Statue) was confirmed as a State Heritage Place in 1989.

    Photo: Unveiling ceremony of the 'Helping Hand' bronze statue on 14 December 1924 by Governor Sir Tom Bridges. Burnside Local History Collection.

Page last updated: 27 Mar 2024, 03:20 PM