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The City of Burnside is proud to be home to many remarkable individuals, including Norma Thrower of Glenside, a former Olympic 80-metre hurdler who now participates in the city’s 3R’s program.

Representing Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Norma earned a bronze medal in the 80-metre hurdles, finishing behind fellow Australian Shirley Strickland. However, it was her gold medal win at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff that Norma cites as the pinnacle of her athletic career.

‘Winning the Commonwealth Games in Wales, that was my career highlight. In Rome, I was in the team, but I bombed out in the semi-final,’ Norma said with a laugh.

Inducted into the South Australian Sports Hall of Fame in 2023, Norma was honoured as one of the state’s premier athletes. Beyond her Olympic achievements, she has excelled in golf and tennis and was formerly the captain of the South Australian A-grade women’s basketball team.

Norma’s family has always been at the core of her journey. Married at 20, she has two children and four grandchildren. Her father, Arnold Austin, was a pivotal figure in her career as her lifelong athletics coach.

Norma has been a member of the City of Burnside’s 3R’s program – Respite, Recreation, and Revitalisation – since the start of this year. Encouraged by her daughter, she now attends weekly sessions at the Civic Centre.

‘A group of us come every Wednesday; we’re all over 80. I enjoy coming in, I always have a ball,’ she said.

The 3R’s program offers a variety of activities designed to keep participants engaged and uplifted, while also providing essential social support. ‘We have musicians come in, and we have a dance. It really boosts your mood. Other days, we’ve had an exercise instructor visit and art workshops,’ Norma said.

The program aims to foster a sense of community and wellbeing among senior residents, offering opportunities for social engagement. Norma’s experiences reflect the program’s impact.

‘After a few years, the girls start to rely on each other and lean on each other to talk. It’s a supportive environment.’

The 3R’s program is designed for individuals over the age of 65 who are socially isolated and want to connect with the community. Funded by the Federal Government through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), the program is accessed via a My Aged Care referral. Groups meet weekly from 10 am – 2 pm, with coffee and lunch provided, and offer a variety of activities including exercise, art, music, puzzles, and entertainment, all with the goal of getting people out of the house and enjoying themselves.

If you or a family member would like to join the 3R’s program, contact Council’s Home Support Program on 8366 4193.

Norma Thrower

Did you know a post office has operated in Glen Osmond (on Glen Osmond Road between Vine Lane and Queens Lane) since 1884? The post office was started by Mrs Mary Bowen, who ran her business at what is now 367 Glen Osmond Road until 1906.

Records indicate that the post office operated in this location for close to 90 years. In the 1970s it moved to the adjoining shop at 365b Glen Osmond Road where it has continued since.

Yesterday saw the final day of service of the Glen Osmond Post Office, which is now permanently closed as of Wednesday 4 September. The Glen Osmond Post Office has served the community in it's current location for over 50 years and will be missed by many nearby residents who accessed it on a regular basis.

The image of the Glen Osmond Post Office below is undated but is likely to have been taken pre-1970 at 367 Glen Osmond Road, which has since been demolished and redeveloped.

This week we farewell a City of Burnside institution for many of our residents – the Glen Osmond Post Office. Which is scheduled to close its doors for the final time on 4 September 2024.

Located between Vine Lane and Queens Lane on Glen Osmond Road, the post office has sat here for over 50 years, with current Postmistress Alison having been here for 10 of those.

Glen Osmond resident Peter Traynor has been visiting the post office 20 years and said losing both the Post Office and Alison will be felt in the community.

‘It’s the convenience of the post office. It is something we grew up with, rely on and depend on. Small suburban post offices are a part of the community,’ Peter said.

‘Alison has provided a great service over her time. But it is the sense of community that she has built, I’ve seen the caring and nurturing approach to her customer service, especially the elderly people who often come there.

‘We’re losing an important pivot because it provides so many services. It is a place where people come to do a lot of their business.’

The land on which the group of shops were built was purchased in 1918 by William Hart, a butcher. The butcher shop was located where the adjacent motel now stands on the corner of Queens Lane. On the other side of the shops runs Vine Lane and north of that corner was the Vine Inn. The Vine Inn was built in 1850 and comprised 11 rooms in a two-story building with stables, stockyards and cottages along Vine Lane.

Running as a hotel until 1909, the space was converted to a boarding house and then a corner shop, until it was demolished in 1970. The Hart family owned the property until 1988 and leased the land in 1962 to the Commonwealth of Australia and then to the Australian Postal Commission in 1983.

Records indicate that there has been a post office between Vine Lane and Queens Lane since 1884, started by Mrs Mary Bowen who purchased the land in 1878 and ran a store, becoming the first Postmistress.

You can hear more from Peter Traynor on the 28 August edition of Burnside Highlights.

Glen Osmond resident Peter Traynor

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we remember the amazing service provided by the Glen Osmond Post Office, which will close down on Wednesday 4 September after more than 50 years of service. We are grateful to local resident Peter who took the time to share his fond memories of this important community service with us.

Do you know what the name Beaumont means?

Founded by Sir Samuel Davenport (1818 - 1906) around 1853, the suburb of Beaumont was designed as a purpose-built village with a park at its heart, known as the Beaumont Common. The park was inspired by traditional English commons, with ownership originally held in trust for the village residents.

In this photograph from around 1887, there is a view of the Adelaide Plains featuring Beaumont. In the foreground you can see Sir Samuel Davenport’s vineyards and olive press, as well as Tower House in the distance, just west of the vines.

Answer: Derived from French, ‘beau’ means beautiful and ‘mont’ means mount, reflecting the suburb’s high setting.

The George Bolton Swimming Centre (the centre) will reopen for the 2024/25 swimming season in late November 2024.

Construction delays at the centre will impact the commencement of the 2024/25 swimming season.

A new electric heat pump and plant room is being installed at the centre, replacing the existing gas heating system.

The pool is currently responsible for around a third of the City of Burnside’s entire carbon emissions, and the switch to an electric heating system, which will be supported by solar panels already installed at the pool, will make a major impact in Council’s journey to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Construction commenced at the centre at the end of the 2023/24 swimming season in May 2024, with the works intended to be completed before the commencement of the 2024/25 swimming season (historically in late September each year).

Challenging site conditions including proximity to the nearby creek line, the protection of regulated and significant trees, constrained access for heavy vehicles/machinery and weather conditions have delayed these construction activities, impacting the scheduled completion of the project.

Further updates on the reopening date will be given in mid September 2024. Council is exploring opportunities to extend the 2024/25 swimming season.

Need more information? Please do not hesitate to contact Council’s Communications and Engagement Coordinator, Bernie Auricht, on 8366 4200 or email burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au.

Meals on Wheels 70^th Birthday

On Friday 9 August, Mayor Anne Monceaux joined Meals on Wheels SA's Burnside branch to celebrate the organisation’s 70th birthday and the branch's 60th!

Founded in 1954 by Doris Taylor MBE, Meals on Wheels SA has delivered over 50 million meals to South Australians over the past 70 years, supporting those unable to cook or shop for themselves. Through this service, Meals on Wheels SA supports these individuals to continue to live independently.

Member of Meals on Wheels, Gayle said the service was about more than just food delivery.

‘The daily visits ensure they are safe, well and okay,’ Gayle said.

‘The main thing is to keep people in their homes feeling safe and secure.’

‘We always need more volunteers not just in the kitchen or drivers but in administration as well. We have 120 households we visit across five routes. Each route we we go on we need one driver and one passenger meaning we need 10 volunteers each day. In the kitchen we also have about 8 volunteers at minimum.’

Burnside Lions Club supported this special occasion by generously funding all the meals made at the Burnside branch for the anniversary.

Burnside Lions Club member Barry said it was important to support the local work undertaken by Meals on Wheels.

‘We are Burnside - we like to spend our money in the Burnside area and celebrate with them as well,’ Barry said.

Happy birthday to Meals on Wheels SA and here's to another 70 years of supporting those in need.

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we reflect on Meals on Wheels SA’s 70th birthday, pay a visit to our heritage listed cemeteries, celebrate a historically significant donation and much more.

15 August 2024

City of Burnside CEO resigns

Today City of Burnside CEO, Chris Cowley, has resigned to take on new challenges.

Mr Cowley will lead the City of Burnside until 15 November 2024 before taking on his next appointment which will be formally announced in the coming week.

Mr Cowley thanked the Mayor, Council and Administration for their support since joining the City of Burnside on 13 January 2020.

‘This decision was one of the hardest I have ever made’, Mr Cowley said.

‘The culture at the City of Burnside is incredible and something we should all be proud of playing a part in creating and sustaining.

‘I’ve achieved what I set out to here at Burnside and I am looking forward to new challenges.’

Mayor Anne Monceaux thanked Mr Cowley for consistently demonstrating strong and positive leadership.

‘He has led his team effectively and has been committed to serving the community of Burnside. I have appreciated his honest and consistent support over four and a half years’, Mayor Monceaux said.

The Mayor assured that there is process in place to select a new CEO.

In his time at the City of Burnside Mr Cowley:

• Led the Council’s response to COVID restrictions that came into effect in March 2020. He ensured that Council continued to deliver services to our community in different ways, in particular services that overcame social isolation for our community throughout the pandemic.
• Delivered the first City Master Plan that will shape the future of Burnside.
• Improved motorist safety with the introduction of 40 km/h speed limits in sections of the City.
• Brought the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass back onto the state and national agenda.
• Has taken a stance on illegal tree removals in the City.
• Saw Council awarded Tree City of the World over four years.
• Started City of Burnside’s path to reconciliation, instigating our partnership with Traditional Owners to develop a Reconciliation Plan and artwork.
• Delivered the redevelopment of Tusmore Wading Pool; the Dulwich Community Centre; construction on the multi award winning Kensington Gardens / Kensington Wama Wetland; the Magill Village Precinct; and The Shed on Conyngham Street.
• Initiated Council’s focus on environmental sustainability, achieving our 2030 carbon neutral emissions targets.
• Fostered grassroots community lead projects such as the creation of the community garden in Laurel Avenue, Linden Park and the Your Neighbourhood Budget program.
• Placed focus on access and inclusion in all Council venues.
• Initiated the refurbishment of the 100-year-old state heritage listed Regal Theatre.

At the Glenunga Hub, Frank’s Coffee has partnered with the Wellness Hub to donate $2 for every coffee sold during the program to the Rotary Club of Burnside, until the end of the year. Owner and Founder of Frank’s Coffee, Julian La Starza said supporting the program was a great way to give back to the local community.

‘We see it as a great way to support a good cause and hopefully get more people through the doors of the Hub.

‘I know a few of the people from Burnside Rotary and they seemed like a natural choice to support.’

Frank’s Coffee, named for Julian’s Nonno, Francesco (Frank) Mercorella, has been located at the Glenunga Hub for three years.

The Burnside Wellness Hub is a collaboration between the City of Burnside and the Rotary Club of Burnside, providing a monthly program for elderly residents featuring unique guest speakers and the opportunity to connect with like-minded members of the community as well as increase social interaction.

Julian, Founder of Frank's Coffee