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For the past two years, Vicky Mousoulis and Howard Butler-Nixon have supported local residents to remain healthy and connected by volunteering as drivers for Council’s Home Support Program.

The City of Burnside Home Support Program offers community and personal transport services, providing local residents with convenient, affordable and safe transport.

Howard drives the bus at least once a week taking people to Burnside Village and Norwood to do their shopping. “I enjoy making people happy,” Howard says. “For some people this is the only shopping they do for a week or a fortnight.” Howard works with another volunteer, helping clients on and off the bus and often carrying their groceries to the door.

Vicky does two shifts a week driving the car, taking clients to appointments. “I like meeting people in this age group and hearing their stories and being of help to them,” she says.

Community Transport Officer Jenny McIntyre says Council is looking for more volunteer drivers to assist the Home Support Program. “These services allow residents to keep connected and engaged with their local community and provide a reliable form of transport to get to and from scheduled appointments. However, without sufficient volunteer drivers the service is difficult to maintain.”

Jenny says drivers do not need a special licence to operate community vehicles. Volunteers guide clients safely in and out of vehicles and also assist them to carry small grocery bags. “The car service takes people to appointments such as medical, health care or personal grooming,” Jenny says. “You must be over 65 years old and be registered with My Aged Care to make use of the service.”

Jenny says the volunteers are invaluable not only for their driving services but as social connections and supports for the clients. “They chat regularly with clients and take a keen interest in their health and wellbeing,” she says. “Volunteers may refer clients to Home Support staff so that they may be linked into other appropriate support services.”

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Council on 8366 4200. Council provides appropriate training in first aid, manual handling and emergency procedures. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We need a steady supply of volunteer drivers,” Jenny says. “These services offer people the chance to be independent, have choices and not rely on friends or family to help them.”

Howard and Vicky with the community bus

Have you seen this interesting building at Kensington Gardens Reserve?

This small brick and terracotta tiled structure housed switching gear for the Kensington Gardens tramline, part of a network of electric tramways which serviced many suburban areas of Adelaide throughout the first half of the 20th century.

In 1911 the Municipal Tramways Trust extended the tram line to Kensington Gardens and purchased what is now Kensington Gardens Reserve, building a band rotunda, games courts, pathways and seasonally popular rose gardens. Trams would pull into the gardens and switch lines at this control point. The last tram to Kensington Gardens ran in February 1957.

Visitors to Moorcroft Reserve in Burnside often enquire about what appears to be a gravesite located in the Reserve. Many stories about this grave circulate, some suggesting it is the resting place of a child, while others believe it is to mark the burial of a family pet.

The headstone reads: 'In loving memory of Alice Maude White, died at birth 17 March 1841'.

If you have any relevant information about this grave, we would love to hear from you at 8366 4200.

The de Mole family from England purchased around 12 acres of land in this locality in 1855 and established a property called The Waldrons. After the last private owner of the estate, Alexander White, passed away in 1959, the grounds were subdivided and Moorcroft Reserve was created.

We are excited to announce that, following an in-depth community consultation, the Bell Yett Reserve Master Plan has been endorsed and will see a wide range of improvements installed at the reserve. Key features of Master Plan 2 include an upgraded sports area, additional play areas, extra seating and lighting and more! Find out more details at bit.ly/BellYettMasterplan

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

✅ Kensington Wama/Kensington Gardens Reserve wins Park of the Year with Parks & Leisure Australia SA/NT
✅ Your Neighbourhood Budget voting now open (bit.ly/YourNB2022)
✅ Draft Master Plan consultation extended until 30 May (bit.ly/CoBconnectP2P)
✅ Penfold Park Master Plan works commence
✅ Local Native Plant Giveaway opens on Friday.

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

National Reconciliation Week is held annually from 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey.

On 27 May 1967, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90% of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.

On 3 June 1992, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge of the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

Since then, National Reconciliation Week started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993, and in 1996 the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia's first National Reconciliation Week.

In celebration of National Reconciliation Week 2022, the City of Burnside is hosting a variety of events. To find out more visit: burnside.sa.gov.au/reconciliationweek

Our annual Local Native Plant Giveaway opens for orders on Friday 27 May 2022.

To order your plants, simply browse through the dozens of species available online, select your plants, then choose a time to pick them up from The Shed Biodiversity Nursery on Conyngham Street. Please note that you will not be able to add any plants to your cart until the giveaway opens.

Head to the Burnside Biodiversity website to find out more and order your plants.

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.