ANZAC | APRIL 2019 Mayor’s Message This month Council is proud to support our local RSL Sub Soldiers Branches to commemorate When Australia went to war on 4 August 1914 the ANZAC Day and honour the world changed for every community. service and sacrifice of our original ANZACs and those Locally, more than 2,000 men from Bayside answered who paid the ultimate price for the call of King and Country and enlisted. Following the freedom we enjoy today. are some of Bayside’s individual stories. We also remember and pay For more local soldiers and their stories please visit tribute to the men and women who continue to serve historyatbayside.wordpress.com and defend our values and freedoms in wars and peace keeping operations around the world. I urge all residents, their family and friends to join their local RSL veterans and attend one of the local services. Francis Chirgwin It is important we keep the legacy alive and continue to educate the younger generation. (1898-1969) April also sees the start of the Bayside Arts Festival Frank Chirgwin sailed which is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our on the Osterley on 8 community’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. The May 1918. In England, month long festival features competitions, exhibitions, he suffered from the forums, workshops, theatrical performances, public art measles and arrived on projects as well as a series of cultural events. the Western Front at the The highlight is Sculptures@Bayside which will end of October, just in showcase more than 30 artworks along the foreshore time for the Armistice. of Botany Bay. The artworks will be on display from He served in France after Saturday 6 April. the war, returning home in 1919. In 1922 he married This month we are also getting ready to celebrate his sweetheart, Doris with our senior residents at our annual Garden Party Speechley and they settled in Sir Joseph Banks Park, Botany. Seating is limited, in Hurstville in a house so don’t forget to book your spot at bit.ly/BaysideSGP called Osterley. Frank or contact our Events Team on 9562 1845. Chirgwin was known as a Cr Bill Saravinovski, Mayor Image courtesy of Kathryn White. gifted runner and cricketer. 2 | Bayside News ANZAC 2019 Alwyn Speechley (1900-1941) ANZAC DAY Alwyn Speechley was a cadet draughtsman when he enlisted in March 1918. Like his mate, Frank Chirgwin he arrived on the Western Front at the end of the war. After hostilities had ceased he served with the Australian Motor Transport Company in Belgium, guarding the company repair workshops. He returned home on 12 January 1920 but was badly injured by a falling tree during the 1920s. He became a paraplegic and opened a PRE-ANZac DAY SERVICES small shop in the Southern Image courtesy of Kathryn White. Highlands. SUnday 14 April 2019 Mascot RSL Sub Branch 2pm: Meet at Mascot Library car park, off King Street Hector Hicks and march to Mascot Memorial Park, corner Botany Road and Coward Street, Mascot, for Service and (1900-1918) Wreath Laying Ceremony. A Community BBQ will follow. Mechanic, Hector Hicks was Rockdale RSL Sub Branch the son of Mascot Alderman, 2:30pm: Church Service Uniting Church 9-11 Bay Thomas Hicks and enlisted in Street, Rockdale, followed by March to the Wall of 1918, aged just 18. He sailed Remembrance Memorial Gardens, Seven Ways, for aboard the Medic, but the Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony. ship was recalled when the Armistice was signed. Back in Australian waters, many ANZac DAY DAWN SERVICES soldiers were infected with THURSDAY 25 April 2019 the pneumonic influenza. The Medic was quarantined at Arncliffe RSL Sub Branch North Head and Hector Hicks 6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service, Cenotaph died there on 30 November Arncliffe Park, 71B Wollongong Road, Arncliffe. 1918. As Mayor, Thomas Hicks Botany RSL Sub Branch campaigned for the purchase 6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service, Cenotaph of land to erect a fitting Booralee Park, corner Bay Street and Daniel Street, war memorial, now Mascot Botany. A Community Breakfast will follow the Service. Image courtesy of Kathryn White. Memorial Park. Bexley RSL Sub Branch 6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service in front of Donald MacAlpine the RSL Club, 24 Stoney Creek Road, Bexley. Brighton Le Sands RSL Sub Branch (1897-1984) 6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service at the Memorial next to the RSL Club, 251 Bay Street, Donald was a Botany currier Brighton Le Sands. when he enlisted in August Earlwood/Bardwell Park RSL Sub Branch 1915. He served as a signaller 5:45am: Meet in the RSL car park at 18 Hartill-Law with the 4th Light Horse Avenue, Bardwell Park, for short march to Memorial Brigade Signal Troop in the and Wreath Laying Service at the Memorial Garden. Middle East, becoming a Sergeant in 1917. He was twice Kingsgrove RSL Sub Branch mentioned in Despatches, 6:45am: Assemble on the corner of Shaw Street and including just after the famous Kingsgrove Road, Kingsgrove 7am: March to Kingsgrove RSL Club for Memorial Battle of Beersheba on 31 and Wreath Laying Service in Memorial Park, October 1917: ‘He displayed 4 Brocklehurst Lane, Kingsgrove. enthusiasm and great initiative in his tireless efforts to perfect Ramsgate RSL Memorial Club the Brigade’s Communications 6:30am: Assemble at the Sans Souci Literary Institute by day and night often corner Campbell Street and Ramsgate Road, Ramsgate. operating under fire.’ Donald 7am: March to the Ramsgate RSL Club for Memorial MacAlpine returned to and Wreath Laying Service at 7:20am. Image courtesy of Kathryn White. Australia in July 1919. Bayside News ANZAC 2019 | 3 Sneak Peak... The Bayside Arts Festival kicks off on Saturday 6 April with stART – a This happy hippo is just one of 30 fun filled arts festival – in Cook Park, amazing sculptures which will dot Kyeemagh from 11am to 3pm. the foreshore of Botany Bay as part of Sculptures @ Bayside There will be a range of arts and craft from Saturday 6 April. Come down activities for kids and adults, as well as and check them all out! a fabulous feast of food provided by the Aussie Night Markets that will be trading on site from 11am to 9pm. Visitors can try their hand at some arts and crafts then grab lunch or dinner and stroll along the bay viewing the 30 sculptures competing for a chance to join the giant crab as a permanent fixture in Bayside. The Bayside Arts Festival is a month long festival featuring a photography and art competition, as well as forums, workshops, theatrical performances SATURDAY 6 APRIL and public art projects. TO For the full program visit: SUNDAY 5 MAY www.bayside.nsw.gov.au/artsfestival CommUNITY GARDEns Community gardens contribute to community well-being, as well as providing many social opportunities for residents. Bayside has 5 community gardens where residents can grow their own vegetables. The newest community garden is located in Sans Souci and plans to establish more are underway. Maloney Street Community Garden, Rosebery Contact: Patrick Hildago on phone 9366 3676 or email [email protected] The Bay Community Garden Lance Studdert Reserve Bestic Street, Kyeemagh Contact: Vera Konsuo on phone 0407 990 510 or email [email protected] Lever Street Reserve Community Garden, Rosebery Contact: Hasan Maboob on phone 0401 687 081 or email [email protected] Sans Souci Veggie Patch Bona Park, Sandringham Street, Sans Souci Contact: Andrea Dell on [email protected] The general public can visit the community gardens at any Alexandra Parade Verge Garden time. Residents can apply to join an existing community Large verge garden run by a few neighbours. garden. More information at www.bayside.nsw.gov.au Clean Up Australia Day Bayside Council would like to thank all staff and volunteers who helped collect approximately 3,000kg of waste and litter on Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday 3 March 2019. Council also arranged a BBQ on the day for all participants. 4 | Bayside News ANZAC 2019 Spotlight on Bexley RMS Asked to Pay Bayside includes numerous shopping Bexley Village dates back to the centres and smaller villages. One that's early 1920s when electricity was first often overlooked is Bexley Shopping introduced. There are many grand Council will send plans for a Village. This Village is developing a new homes in the area, including Lydham $17.7 million upgrade for two role as a health care, personal well- Hall in Lydham Avenue and others in intersections on Wentworth being and niche business destination. Dunmore Street and Harrow Road. Avenue, Pagewood, to the There are many hidden gems to be Bexley also boasts its own School of State Government’s Roads and discovered. Come to see a health care Arts and Masonic Hall plus the Uniting Maritime Services (RMS) for professional and stay for a massage, Church in Gladstone Street which has a approval and also lobby the coffee or a tasty pub lunch, enrol in an most unusual internal layout. State Government to fund the six art class or violin academy, buy a guitar million dollar shortfall. Bexley Chamber of Commerce was or look at the latest remote controlled formed in 1924 by the then Mayor of “A local council would not toys and drones on offer. Bexley Municipal Council Alderman normally fund projects on Venture off the main drag (Forest F S Stephens and is still going strong. state roads or the installation Road) to find 3 council owned car The Chamber welcomes feedback and of traffic lights as they come parks with generous time limits. The suggestions via their Facebook page under the jurisdiction of the Village is well serviced by buses to all on how business and the community State Government.