September 2015 Newsletter Here

Blackwood Action Group Inc.
SPRING has sprung .... at last! After what has seemed to be the longest and coldest Winter in
Adelaide for many years we are at last able to shed a few layers of clothing and absorb some
natural Vitamin D again........ (aren’t you glad you don’t live in Canberra!)
Whether you are a “footy fanatic” or not one cannot help but be impressed with the Adelaide Crows
performances leading into the Finals. Their sheer dedication and will to win is an inspiration to all
South Australians – we wish them well in the remaining matches of their campaign to “win the flag”.
Please find attached the Minutes of our August Public Meeting at which young Daniel Spencer
addressed the audience on his passion for renewable energy. A most enlightening discussion.
This month we have invited Council’s Youth Development Officer, ULUS FUAT, to come and talk to
us about “graffiti issues”. Ulus is doing some really great work amongst the youth in the Mitcham
area – we are totally impressed with his desire and commitment to his job in various fields.
BAG has had a busy few weeks (busier than “normal”!). Check out below some of the activities our
volunteers have been engaged in. We are always seeking more help so if you feel you can spare a
couple of hours in your busy schedule you would be most welcome to join us.
Alternatively contact BAG Secretary, (details at the foot of this Newsletter) for more information.
You are also encouraged to check out our new WEB site: www.blackwoodactiongroup.org.au for
reports on what is happening around the Mitcham Hills - and a photo gallery of some of the events.
BAG PUBLIC MEETING
MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER from 7.00pm
Blackwood Railway Station (parking in western or eastern car parks)
GUEST SPEAKER: ULUS FUAT - (Mitcham Council’s
Youth Development Officer)
ULUS will be providing a fresh insight into graffiti vandalism; understanding the various
types of graffiti, common motivators, and some of the successes (and failures)
Council has had with aerosol art murals.
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You are invited to join us at any of our Public Meetings held on the THIRD MONDAY of
EACH MONTH in our new Railway Station Clubrooms. Our Meetings are totally informal.
ALL WELCOME
A light supper is provided after each meeting
.
“ALL ABOARD” TRAIN TRIPS
WE are pleased to advise that the THREE Historic train trips organised
for this Tuesday (15th) have been FULLY BOOKED.
Our thanks to Therese Willis (Council’s Heritage Advisory Officer) and
her Team of helpers for coordinating these trips, & BAG volunteers for
providing the yummy Devonshire teas, Watch this space for more trips
LIONS WATER TRAILER FINDS A NEW “HOME”
THE 400 lt. water bladder and trailer kindly donated to BAG by Blackwood Lions has been sitting in our
storage shed (unused) for some time. As most of BAG’s “greening projects” now have their own watering
arrangements the Committee sought “expressions of interest” from other like organisations. We are
pleased to advise that Carrick Hill has agreed to take over the water trailer on a “permanent loan” basis.
We see this as a “win win” result and feel sure the trailer will prove to be great value to Carrick Hill gardens.
CELEBRATE THE 40th ANNIVERSARY of the OPENING of
WITTUNGA Botanic Garden to the PUBLIC in 1975
SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER FROM 12 TO 4 pm
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LIVE MUSIC by Band of the SA Police
‘Fork on the Road’ (food trucks, vans & stalls)
Nature Play children’s activities
Guided Tours
Join us for a FREE fun-filled event!
DIARY
DATES
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MANY database members are finding this list of COMING
ATTRACTIONS useful when compiling their diaries over
the next few months.
We hope that you will find
something of interest amongst this list and encourage you
to support these local events, if convenient.
SAT. 19 SEPT. - BAG’s “CHRISTMAS RED BOWS” Working Bee (9.00am start) ** see details below
SAT. 19 SEPT. – 9.00am to 3.00pm “HAND SEWN HOME GROWN” Bellevue Hts Primary School
SUN. 20 SEPT. – 10.00 TO 3.00pm HISTORIC FIRE ENGINE DISPLAY at Carrick Hill, Springfield
THURS. 24 SEPT. (1 – 4 pm) & SAT. 26 SEPT. (9 – 12 noon) WATCHMAN PROPERTY MAIN ROAD
Coro. Valley. Public invited to drop in and see the refurbishment
TUES. 29 SEPT. – “1914 B’WOOD MAGAZINE” and “Early Years of Blackwood” - TALK by Lindy
Taeuber at Mitcham Historical Society Scotch College
SAT. 10 & 17 OCT. – SINGING WORKSHOPS (Celebrate Song!) B’wd Comm. Cent. 10 - 12 FREE
SUN. 11 OCT. – 9.30 am FOODLAND POCKET PARK OFFICIAL LAUNCH – All Welcome
SAT. 17 OCT. – 12 – 4 WITTUNGA 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – SEE DETAILS ABOVE
SUN. 18 OCT. - “VOICES OF THE VILLAGE” - Sutton Gdns/Brown Hill Ck Reserve (more details later)
TUES.20 OCT. – CELEBRATE GARDENING! with Sophie Thomson B’wd Community.Centre 6.30pm
(Bookings essential – Ph. 8372 8255)
SUN. 8 NOV. - 2.00 – 4.00 pm SPECIAL BAG REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT (Geoff Lock to speak
about our soldiers of WW1) Meet at Soldiers Memorial and walk to B’wood Rail. Station. A’noonTea
SUN. 15 NOV. - ANNUAL BLACKWOOD ROTARY CHRISTMAS FAIR – Karinya Reserve
SUN. 15 NOV. – NATURE PLAY DAY FOR CHILDREN – Carrick Hill, Springfield
FRI. 4 DEC. - BLACKWOOD CHRISTMAS PAGEANT & FAIR – Main Road and Waite Street Reserve
MON. 14 DEC. – BAG CHRISTMAS BREAK-UP – The Artisan Cafe (7.00pm)
THIS SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER commencing 9.00am sharp - until noon approx.
at the Blackwood Community Hall, Young Street
The CHRISTMAS RED BOWS is one of BAG’s major fund-raisers each year.
HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED to cut up the material and prepare the packs for sale.
Please contact LIS BARTLETT (8370 3006) ASAP if you can assist. Many thanks
BLACKWOOD STATION GARDEN EXTENSION
URRBRAE students pose for a ‘team photo’
at the end of a hard day’s work!
BAG was recently approached by ULUS FUAT (Council’s Youth
Development Officer) to see if we had a ‘greening’ project which could
involve some students from Urrbrae Agricultural High School.
We immediately thought of the Blackwood station garden area – north of
the platform (leading to the Red Hens new ‘roost’)
Over 2 days last week the school arranged for about 35 students to come
up and ‘get dirty’. Together they cleared a couple of banks of weeds and
helped plant many native plants (kindly provided by DPTI). Council also
supplied a truck-load of mulch. It was a real ‘win-win’ exercise and one in
which everyone involved is keen to promote again. The kids had a ball!
CAN
YOU
HELP
?
BAG’s ‘GREENING of BLACKWOOD’ projects are continually improving the
appearance and amenity of our district, including the recently completed
‘Pocket Park’ in the Foodland shopping centre and the extended garden
planting at the Blackwood Railway Station (see Reports above and below).
This is in addition to all the planter boxes, street verge plantings and the
established gardens at both the Coromandel and Blackwood stations.
HOWEVER, ALONG WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS COMES THE NEED FOR
REGULAR WATERING AND MAINTENANCE.
We are looking for some more volunteers to help (as a lot of this work is being
done by the same people). Activities can include being part of a watering
roster, overseeing a particular project in Blackwood to manage other
volunteers, or just being available on an as-needs basis for incidental work.
PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE TO KEEP
BLACKWOOD LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.
Contact Secretary, Geoff Bartlett (0408 117003 or email: geoffrey_bartlett@bigpond.com)
to discuss these opportunities
THE Foodland Pocket Park is arguably the most ambitious ‘greening’
project yet undertaken by BAG. The former industrial waste bin site was
transformed in four days a couple of weeks ago and now provides an
attractive meeting (and eating) place for shoppers and shop staff.
The whole project was made possible through the generosity and help of
many people. BAG would like to express our sincere thanks to the
following: BLACKWOOD HIRE, BANNER MITRE 10, BLACKWOOD
LANDSCAPING & FIREWOOD SUPPLIES, The TERRAIN GROUP (park
furniture), MITCHAM COUNCIL and the STRATA GROUP 5411 (owners of the
land). A special word of “thanks” also to all the BAG volunteers.
Kind regards
Geoff Bartlett
Hon. Secretary
Mob: 0408 117003
Email: geoffrey_bartlett@bigpond.com
Blackwood Action Group Inc. www.blackwoodactiongroup.org.au