22,000 copies / month Community News, Local Businesses, Local Events and Free TV Guide CKC Competition 2017 - the chorus during their award-winning performance which saw them become champion Small Chorus in the Sweet Adeline Australia competition Story on page 5 Sandstone MARK VINT FIRST HOME Special Offers Special Offers FIRST HOME BUYERSBUYERS Available Available Sales 9651 2182 FIRST TIME Insider Information Buy Direct From the Quarry and Help Insider Information 270 New Line Road FIRST TIME INVESTORSINVESTORS and Help Help for Dural NSW 2158 DEBTS & LOANS Everyone 9652 1783 DEBTS & LOANS Help for [email protected] 0414 903 443 / 9653 2034 Everyone Handsplit ABN: 84 451 806 754 www.everyloan.com.au 0414 903 443 / 9653 2034 Random Flagging $55m2 WWW.DURALAUTO.COM www.everyloan.com.au 113 Smallwood Rd Glenorie Community News Over 13 local organisations will also be in attendance as part of Census reveals there are 157, this green day to provide you with all the answers you have been 243 of us in the Hills Shire looking for, about waste and recycling, Landcare, National Parks, Aboriginal culture, bush regeneration, plants, Indian Myna control, The average Hills Shire resident is Family at Lunar Festival wetlands, weeds, nest boxes, and your local environment. aged in their late 30s, was born in Research shows that exposure to nature improves mental and Australia and has a median weekly physical health and also helps children learn about the natural income of $2363, the latest 2016 world. There’s no better way to embrace these benefits than by Census figures revealed. taking part in Planet Ark’s iconic environmental campaign, now in Data also shows residents are its 22nd year. most likely paying off a mortgage, Last year nearly 310,000 people took part in National Tree Day at live in a single dwelling house over 3,500 sites across the country, planting more than 1.1 million and live with their family – the native trees, shrubs and edibles and helping to green urban areas. most common household type represented in the region at To find out more visit treeday.planetark.org, call the National Tree 53 per cent. Day Hotline on 1300 88 5000 or visit your local participating Toyota Australia Dealership. Residents born in China more than doubled within the Shire to a National Tree Day is organised by Planet Ark in partnership with total of 8067 people, and those born in India increased by 56 per Toyota Australia and its Dealer Network which provides on-the- cent to 5703 people. While the once dominant UK born residents ground support at tree planting sites across Australia. continued their decline, falling six per cent in the last four years to The annual Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter Open Day 6089 people. will also be held on the same day as the plant giveaway just next Further to the data, more than half of residents within the Shire door, so there will be something for all members of the family, have parents who were both born overseas. This is a six per cent including pets. These events will launch Local Government Week increase from 2011, which is higher than the national rate of 0.1 per 2017 (31 July – 6 August). cent. The most common housing tenure in The Hills remains “own If you are unable to make it to collect your free plants on 29 with a mortgage”, while the median mortgage repayments declined July, the Nursery will have a small supply of plants to giveaway on from $2600 to $2500. Monday, 31 July from 10.30am – noon. However the weekly rent in The Hills has increased from $455 to For more information about the plant giveaway, contact Council’s $560, which is $120 higher than the Greater Sydney average. Community Bushcare Officer, Martin Gauci on (02) 4560 4525 or The latest Census data can be accessed on Council’s Community [email protected]. Profile webpage, profile.id.com.au/the-hills. It’s a great place to source information about our amazing Shire for research, business Animal Shelter Open Day 2017 planning, school assignments or if you wanting to know more about our beautiful region. For more information, please contact Council’s Economic Development Team on (02) 9843 0399 or (02) 9843 0324. Be inspired by nature this National Tree Day Hawkesbury City Council in conjunction with Planet Ark, are inviting residents to be inspired by nature and Imogen and Juliet with Taco the Chihuahuacrop make a positive difference by Local residents and their pets are invited to the annual attending a Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter Open Day, to be held on National Tree Day event in their neighbourhood. Saturday, 29 July from 9:30am to noon, as a launch event ahead of The annual FREE plant giveaway will be held at Hawkesbury Local Government Week. Community Nursery, 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave, on Saturday, 29 Organised by the Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter, the July from 9:30am – noon to celebrate National Tree Day. Open Day will include animal focused market stalls, a mobile This event is a success each year, with over 1,000 free plants to be dog wash, Australian Working Dog Rescue demonstrations, given away to residents. Residents of the Hawkesbury are eligible and a BBQ. There will be free micro-chipping (Hawkesbury to receive two free plants per person or six free plants per family as residents only, maximum of two per household, between part of the giveaway. To receive your free plants, proof of residency 9:30am – 11:30am). is required. Plants will only be provided to residents and family For more information about Hawkesbury Companion Animal members in attendance. Shelter Open Day, please call 4560 4644. 2 21 July 2017 | Hills to Hawkesbury Living Read online: www.hillstohawkesbury.com.au Community News My neighbourhood Hills Shire residents will now be able to keep up-to-date on the latest projects, council works and events happening HILLS ROTARACT throughout their community with the help of a new online mapping tool, called My Neighbourhood. The new interactive map, located on Council’s website, gives people a more convenient way to discover proposed works planned in their suburb and The Hills more generally. You can JOIN THE THE HILLS also find information about your parks and facilities, events, as well as your local Councillors and bin collection dates. You ROTARACT CLUB! can either type in your full street address and hit search, use HILLS the Find My Location Button or use the computer mouse to scroll through the map. More than 300 projects have already been listed, with more being added to the site every day. The map can be used at any time of the day via Council’s ROTARACTHELP. website, www.thehills.nsw.gov.au. Simply visit the homepage and click on My Neighbourhood to use the interactive map. LEARN. First home super saver scheme CLUB!ENJOY. First home buyers can take advantage of the Government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme, which came into effect on 1 July. The scheme will give first home savers the ability to accelerate their savings by at least 30 per cent. First home Rotaract is a global organisation that empowers students and buyers will be able to save for a house deposit within their young professionals to create positive change in their local communities and around the world. Rotaract provides unique superannuation by making voluntary contributions of up to opportunities HELP.that assist its members in becoming the business and $15,000 per year and $30,000 in total into their superannuation professional leaders of tomorrow. account. These contributions, which are taxed at the discounted rate of 15 per cent, along with deemed earnings, can be Hills Rotaract Club Meetings: 1300 616 614 First Thursday of the Month - Business Breakfast withdrawn for a deposit from 1 July next year. Withdrawals will [email protected] Third Thursday of the Month - Online Meeting www.hillsrotaract.org.auLEARN.Last Sunday of the Month - Coffee Catch Up be taxed at marginal tax rates less a 30 per cent offset. With many Australians now entering the housing market later in life, this initiative will encourage first home buyers to save for a deposit more quickly. Further information on the ENJOY. First Home Super Saver Scheme is available at: http://www. budget.gov.au/2017-18/content/glossies/factsheets/html/ Rotaract is a global organisation that HA_14.htm. First Home Buyers can also get an indication of how the scheme can benefit them by visiting: www.budget.gov. empowers students and au/estimator. young professionals to create positive WorldVentures Foundation change in their local partners with Seven Hills communities and around the world. students Rotaract provides unique In July, volunteers from the WorldVentures Foundation opportunities that assist its members in worked alongside students at Seven Hills High School to becoming the business and professional expand the on-site farm that will teach students about sustainability and food production, and employ youth in the leaders of tomorrow. community for maintenance. Established in 2010, the WorldVentures Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of children worldwide Meetings: through sustainable programs that promote health and well First Thursday of the Month - Business Breakfast being. Working with not-for-profit organisation, Sprouting Third Thursday of the Month - Online Meeting Good, Seven Hills High School students and WorldVentures Last Sunday of the Month - Coffee Catch Up Foundation volunteers expanded the school’s on-site farm. In addition to developing the garden to educate students in years Hills Rotaract Club 7 to 10 about food sustainability, the aim of the project is to 1300 616 614 create employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth by [email protected] offering paid garden maintenance roles.