the Newssheet of the Balmain Association PO Box 57•Balmain•NSW•2041 www.balmainassociation.org.au Vol 52 No 3 Issue 344 Founded November 1965 September 2017 Meet and Greet Wednesday 28th June 2017 6pm Balmain Town Hall he meet and greet of History similarities when it comes to the and Heritage groups in the Inner inner west’s communities’ history and TWest was a delightful night with the heritage.” mood set by Ray Alldrige who was “One of the very clear aspects we have Ray Martin’s Music Director from the in common is the commitment and 1990s and vocalist Richard Frank. valuable input the heritage groups and The night was a wonderful opportunity volunteers contribute to our service for representatives from all the and the recording and analysing of the History and Heritage groups of the Inner West’s Community’s history. new amalgamated Inner West Council We are hosting this meet and greet area to present their profile, location, tonight in recognition of this, and your members and current research areas important ongoing contributions.” Duncan MacAuslan speaking about the to the other groups. Now comprising The newly formed local history team, an area of 35 square kilometres, with Sydney Bus Museum Amie Zar Local History Librarian, A wide range of publications were an estimated population of 182,043 Aleem Aleemullah Local History over 27 suburbs, it truly begs for on display and wonderful networks Librarian, Anna-Bella De Silva Archivist were beginning to form. We all look bridges to be built. The Inner West has and Shane Teehan Library Officer, such a rich history, all the way from forward to the ongoing strength of the presented a brief on the collections research conducted, the collections Birchgrove and Balmain to the Cooks and services they manage from the River in Tempe running north to south preserved, events to be enjoyed former three council areas Marrickville, celebrating educating and informing then from Newtown to Croydon Park Ashfield and Leichhardt. The collections running east to west. the community about the rich history include the Balmain Archives and heritage of the Inner West. The newly appointed Group Manager community collection, Leichhardt of Library and History Services Local History, Marrickville Local Amie Zar, Caroline Macleod opened the event. History and Ashfield Local History Local History Librarian – Inner West She expressed the current review of collections, comprising of original Council Leichhardt. services and the best way we can maps, oral histories, publications Photos courtesy Local History IWC. deliver the service in the future. “The and exhibitions. The Local History team, in doing this, have discovered Grant programme was presented and Balmain Association some differences, but many more individuals and groups were encouraged to apply for grants to enrich the local 2017 AGM history collections and provide valuable Wednesday 1 November research about people, places and events Agenda and nomination in the Inner West. form enclosed. Presenters included Duncan MacAuslan from Sydney Bus IN THIS ISSUE Museum, Ross Mackenzie on P. 1 Meet and Greet, History and Heritage behalf of the Balmain Association, Groups Carole Allen from Friends of Callan P. 2 Where has democracy gone? Park, Scott MacArthus from the P. 3 Council Elections - a Snapshot Marrickville Heritage Society, Laurel P. 4 & 5 Bridges and Tunnels P. 6 More vandalism in Mort Bay Park Horton from St Peters Cooks River P. 7 Celebrate POP History Group and Louis and Sue P.8 What’s on at the Watch House, Castrique from the Addison Road Back to Balmain Day 2017 Caroline Mcleod and Shane Teehan from Centre. Marrickville Where has Democracy gone? Looking back over the rise and fall of community involvement in Local Government!! Mergers have caused local representation to fall to lowest level Forced amalgamations have slashed the number of Councillors across Sydney, reducing local community representation to the lowest level ever. Average representation for the Inner West has plummeted from 1 Councillor for every 4334 people to 1 Councillor per 12,136 people. The whole of Hunters Hill Council which remained alone, is 13,999 with 7 elected councillors ie 2000 per councillor. This comes at a time when Sydney’s population is set to grow by around 1.5 million over the next 15 years – Leichhardt Council 2011 increasing the average size of Councils 52,000 residents with 12 councillors by a further 60,000 people each. 1 representative for 4334 We in The Inner West have 3 State MPs representing us crossing the different boundaries. Balmain 82,772 residents, Newtown 84,026 and Inner West Council 2016 Summer Hill 81,050 ie that is one 182,043 with 15 councillors representative for median of 83,000. 1 representative for12,136 Now with our local government being Balmain Ward 38,695 with 3 reduced to one representative for councillors 12,898 per councillor 12,136 who will have time to give us proper representation? How’s that for Democracy? Representation in 1991 For 1987 and 1991 council elections Leichhardt did not have a ward system. Peninsula Observer October 1991: After council elections in September 1991, residents are confident that the factional bitterness characterised by the previous Leichhardt Council meetings will not be repeated with the election of seven new councillors. Balmain State Electorate 82,772 Four are members of the Balmain Compiled by June Lunsmann who is Association and there are now happy to be corrected. seven councilors from the Balmain Peninsula, which says something for Newtown State Electorate 84,026 Summer Hill State Electorate 81,050 voters’ concerns. Of interest is the concern about References: providing “a proportion of housing • Peninsula Observer which is affordable to low and March 2017, Inner West moderate income groups and to Merger is the wrong safeguard accommodation for existing merger John Stamolis groups of vulnerable residents and • Peninsula Observer keep a mix of socio-economis groups.” October 1991 For the next council election, 1995 the • Bureau of Statistics wards were reintroduced this time 4 website ABS.gov.au wards with 3 representatives a total of • IWC website 12 councillors. 2 COUNCIL ELECTIONS – A SNAPSHOT - Diana Garder With the Council elections due in for Leichhardt Council and many of When Open Council was established September and all the controversy his employees were all examined. in the 1970s there were a number of about amalgamations and The Commissioner’s comment when committees set up which involved administrators, I got to thinking about hearing about Danny’s unorthodox members of the community. The the changes in Council over the 50 financial dealings was: “ I can major one was the Town Planning years I have lived in Balmain. understand children being willing to Committee which was very involved In the 1960s the Labor Party was very believe in Father Christmas”. with the development of the much in control of Leichhardt Council With conflicts between the old Labor’s Leichhardt Town Plan, but there were and State and Federal members were domination of the area and the new Heritage, Traffic etc Committees and selected by the party. No public input inner urban residents – “Trendies” much later Precinct Committees which at all. The Mayor at the time was Ann – branch meetings were sometimes involved a large number of local Cashman, a puppet head who presided heated. The finale was when the lights residents in decision making in their over the Council meetings and agreed went out at the Balmain Town Hall areas. With the current amalgamated with whatever was put forward. I during a Balmain Labor meeting, a Council we have lost all of this recall going to a Leichhardt Council fire extinguisher was thrown through a accumulated knowledge and we have Ball at the Leichhardt Town Hall window and the books disappeared so lost our local representation. and Balmain Association members that bona fide branch members could Diana Garder. Rose and Errol Pickard waltzing to not be verified. the national anthem, “God Save the Nick Origlass and Issy Wyner, Queen”!! Balmain Independents, remained on Remember to vote As the population of Balmain was Council for many years. Many names Saturday 9th September changing, people wanted a say in from those times – some good, some To elect 15 councillors how their local area was managed. A bad – Hall Greenland, Evan Jones, to Inner West Council, 3 group called “Campaign for Better Bill Brady and then the Community for each of 5 wards, to Council” was formed and a number Independents came on the scene. represent 185,000 residents. of locals put their hands up to stand Led by Larry Hand they were a force Come and meet the for Council. Philip Bray and Elizabeth with Sue Stock, Trevor Snape, Maire candidates for the Balmain Tow were elected in Balmain and Sheehan, Kath Hacking with solid Ward there were others in the other wards. community support. Tuesday August 29 Nick Origlass and Issy Wyner, who The machinations of what goes on See poster below. had been in Council for many years as behind closed doors Labor members, and had been kicked was revealed in out of the Labor Party for taking the the film “Rats in residents’ side against the chemical the Ranks” by Bob tank farms in Donnelly Street, were Connolly on the elected as independents also. This was mayoral elections 1971-1973 and Nick Origlass, who in 1994 with Larry became the Mayor, introduced Open Hand as the star! We Council. The barrier was removed were all involved! between the public and the councilors Larry who had been and anyone could speak to their Mayor since 1991, was cause!! A huge step forward!! again successful at that The Labor Party hit back however election and remained for the next election - signing up Mayor in 1995, many of the party faithful prior to followed by Maire the election and so regained power.