Mayor4Unley

I have a passion for greening. Only yesterday I planted another row of radish seeds 😉 I just wish that new high rise developments in Unley would incorporate green elements. It can be done; and should be done. Unley Council should be pressuring developers to be more green in their designs. Here's an excellent example of what can be achieved. #green #unley #GreenUnley

I'm just so pleased with my Candy Pink Agapanthus. Such beautiful flowers. The Christmas Holly arrangement for the table needed a bit of colour. For some reason this year the holly didn't have any red berries. So we added red roses and a Candy Pink Agapanthus. Just stunning! more info re my candy-striped-pink-agapanthus

This year my tomato plants won't get burnt in the hot summer sun. Some people use big umbrellas or old bed sheets. A bit cumbersome. Imagine my delight at finding a triangular (3.4x3.4x3.4m) heavy duty shade cloth at a garage sale. Just 5 bucks! (Actually, I gave them $10; it was the woman down the street.) My delight was a bit short-lived during erection. That triangular shape was a bit tricky, especially finding the right spots to tie to nearby trees. Anyway, its up, well before the onslaught of the hot weather. The tomato plants are doing well in this hot period. It's going to be a great crop. The best looking plants for years!

No more buying cucumbers for a few months. My cucumber vines are loaded and will bear well for a few months. Nothing beats a fresh home gown cucumber, especially the old fashioned heirloom varieties that taste so good.They are grown for flavour and not for transport and wrapped in plastic. The best way to eat a cucumber is salted and peppered on lightly buttered fresh bread. Here's a photo of the second one picked this season. I'm in cucumber heaven 😛

Well done to the four SA rural Liberal MPs who crossed the floor. It's refreshing to see MPs voting in accord with the wishes of their constituents. I encourage more politicians to listen to the people and vote accordingly and not blindly on party lines.

I wish the new Unley Council the best in its deliberations over the next 4 years. With so many new Councillors (and so many women) the old apple cart will frequently be up-ended. It will be interesting to reflect on as an observer. Over the next 13 months, the most important issue (by far) for Unley Council is the rebuilding of King William Road; how to do it and retain a high level of business for the local traders. It will be a tough and consuming task. Already the traders are anxious and expressing concern about forecast hard times. There have been public calls for compensation for lost trade. That won't happen. Council won't go down that path. It certainly didn't for Goodwood Road. During the re-build of Goodwood Road, the businesses were severely impacted with lost trade (down 40-60%), staff laid off, less people driving to the shops. Yes, at all times there was public access to the entrance to each shop; but people weren't driving there. And the b...

We don't need a tax on red and processed meats. Supposedly because it is bad for us. This is ridiculous. Sure, we recognise that too much red meat and bacon is bad for us and over time we have been reducing our intake. Statistics show this trend. Here's hope that eating so much chicken and more vegetables doesn't adversely affect our health. We don't need a new tax to help us reduce consumption. Just keep us informed and let us manage our diet ✅ If we want to eat bacon, then that's our choice. We don't need a Nanny State tax on meat ❌ Click here for more details

Some months ago I attended a half day plant grafting workshop. I went home full of enthusiasm and grafted plum on plum, white peach on yellow peach, avocado on avocado and pomegranate on pomegranate. Results: Plum ✅ Peach ✅ Avocado ❌ Pomegranate ✅ I discovered that avocados are best grafted in late November in Adelaide. But I had given up on the pomegranate graft attempt. It wasn't looking hopeful. I remember just how hard the wood was; and the plant stalk was a bit thicker than I would have liked. Nothing seemed to be happening. Yesterday it was pure joy to discover that the graft had taken and had several shoots. The type of pomegranate I grafted is called 'Wonderful'; a modern and sweeter fruit with better eating seeds. Over time I will make this graft dominate the tree.

It was a sad day to see the Dardanelles Cenotaph uprooted from the South Parklands and transported to a side street in Adelaide. Over the past year I had joined local residents in Adelaide and Unley to protest the planned removal. It had been paid for by the Unley (and Adelaide) widows of soldiers killed in the Dardanelles. It was the first WW1 memorial. Funded 100% by local residents. It was a travesty by the Adelaide City Council. There was no real consultation. A real shame. May Adelaide City Council hang its head in shame. Story by journalist Lance Campbell The Dardanelles Cenotaph, uprooted and plonked in a side street in Adelaide. Compared with where it was, it looks so out of place.

This is a fantastic initiative that started in pubs in Scotland with a 'ask for Annie'. It has finally caught on in Australia, and now in SA. If you're on a date at a hotel and feel uncomfortable or unsafe and want help or a discreet exit, then approach hotel staff and 'ask for Angela'. Hotel staff are being trained to assist you to escape an awkward situation eg. taken to a private room and a taxi called. The scheme was designed primarily for women, but anyone asking for Annie will be assisted. A great initiative. Hotels in SA rolling out 'ask for Angela' campaign My earlier blog back in July 2018

It was sad to hear of the death of Sisto Malaspina, killed by a terrorist in front of his Pellegrini's coffee shop in Bourke Street, Melbourne. He was a mate; a friend to all who visited. He remembered you after years of absence; and after only a few occasional visits to Melbourne. I had the pleasure of having coffee (many short blacks) with him earlier this year. When in Melbourne, a visit to Pellegrini's was always my priority. Pellegrini's will continue as an institution (because the coffee is just so good; simply the best) and the family will maintain that special relationship with the clients. RIP (far too early) my friend.

The campaigning for the Unley Council election is over. I've walked the length and breadth (and all the streets) of Unley  many times. I averaged 10-15km per day. I lost 5kg and tightened my leg and stomach muscles; and I had to put another hole in my belt. Pants falling down wasn't a good look on the campaign trail  I met some great people and had many interesting chats. I even came home with some plant cuttings; a perennial Greek Basil (now growing well) and a lovely pink Frangipani. The Frangipani stalk will lie on the ground for 2-3 months before I plant it. It was an interesting campaign. I ran a robust and honest campaign. Mine was the only campaign for Mayor that was environmentally friendly with no glossy coloured flyers and no nasty plastic corflute posters up poles that visually polluted the streets of Unley. It was frustrating to learn that a lot of election material stuffed in letterboxes was not read; and not just mine. It was difficult a...

A week to go before the Council election votes are counted. 50% of the forecast votes have been received. (In general about 30% of people vote.) If you have not yet voted, then be quick to beat the deadline. Votes must be received by Friday 09 November. If you leave it too late to post (and remember it may take 2-3-4-5 days to get there) then you can drop your votes off at the Unley Council. Your vote could just determine who gets elected. Importantly, don't waste your vote VOTE 1 BOB SCHNELL for Unley MAYOR He's your best choice (by far) !! Bob is your candidate with COMMON SENSE written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 

David and Muriel in Hyde Park contacted me. They were distressed by a flyer that had appeared in their letterbox overnight. It was about an 11 storey development proposed next door to them. I explained that it was a cruel hoax and was being circulated to influence the election. It is a a nasty red coloured leaflet being circulated across Unley. It contains blatant lies and is whipping up hysteria about an 11 storey development to be built 'next door to you’ . It’s very amateurish and has a ‘how to vote’ showing a preference for  Michael Hewitson . The gossip on the street is about who actually funded it To me, it’s clear who funded it. It’s in very poor taste. Just ignore it. Don’t be deceived; don’t waste your vote ❌ VOTE 1 BOB SCHNELL for Unley Mayor ✅✅✅ Written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #unley #mayor

Unley Council zoned the property opposite the Cremorne Hotel as 5 storey. I would have preferred 3-4 storey to protect the heritage and character . Yet the State Government (both Labor and Liberal) approved 7 storey developments. Vote for a Mayor to fight these horror high rises. VOTE 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Vote to protect the character of our city. Don’t waste your vote! image sourced from Facebook written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #concretejungle #highrises #crowding #keepunleygreen #keepunleybeautiful #standfortrees #protectandpreserve #heritage #history #Unley #Mayor

Today I met with Unley resident Julie outside the Unley Shopping Centre. We talked about my Back to Basics proposals listed on my election flyer. She liked my ideas of re-focusing on fixing issues in our streets eg. street trees, verge planting, trip hazards on the brick paving, street lights, weed control, street and footpath sweeping etc. - rather than ongoing spending on many (far too many) high cost projects. Julie agreed that we need to get back to basics. However, what impressed her most the fact that I was walking across Unley's suburbs and hand delivering my flyers via letterbox. She commented that a lot of election material was being distributed via junk mail, wrapped inside Coles and Woolworths catalogues. She liked my personal touch. She felt that my black and white flyers showed a more personal touch and was more environmentally friendly. It was pleasing to get feedback, especially about not having glossy colour brochures. I have deliberately run an environm...

When voting for Mayor of Unley ... Just VOTE 1 for BOB SCHNELL There's no need to mark any other box. I suggest that you don't follow the recommended How to Vote preferences of the other 2 candidates, Dario Centrella and Michael Hewitson. They have teamed-up with a preference swap. By simple maths: if you vote for Dario , then you will probably get Hewitson if you vote for Hewitson , then you might get Dario You can't be sure of the outcome. Make your vote really count. Vote for a True Independent. Vote for a real people person & someone who cares! Vote for BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #unley #mayor

When voting for Unley Mayor, choose the best candidate ✅ Choose very carefully ... Choose the person who can best do the job . Choose the person who has the most experience . Choose the person who can actually chair a meeting . Choose the person who can actually listen during a conversation . Choose the person who genuinely cares about issues . Choose the person who has no factional allegiance . Choose the person who is a true independent . Choose the person who won't focus   on himself . Your best choice is BOB SCHNELL ✅ BOB ticks all of these boxes and he has 67% more experience than Michael Hewitson . The other candidate Dario Centrella has zero experience. The bonus is that BOB has common sense ✅✅ Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Your best choice (by far)! written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #Unley #Mayor

As a candidate for Mayor of Unley, I bring no baggage. Absolutely zero. I owe no favours. I have no debt. I have no business connections in Unley. I am not a member of any political party. Never have been. I am truly Independent. I speak my mind and tell it as it is. I don’t chase crazy and loopy ideas. I am the candidate with common sense. Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Your best choice (by far)!! written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #Unley #Mayor

Yesterday I was out door knocking along Arthur Street, Unley. On the street I met Molly walking her dog Snuffles. We had a chat about local issues. Then she said that I looked a lot younger than the photo on my election flyer . That made me feel good. I explained that I wasn't the youngest candidate for Mayor and I wasn't the oldest. I sit comfortably between the age range of the other 2 candidates. I explained to Molly that I have the most Council experience; 67% more than Michael Hewitson whilst the other candidate  Dario Centrella has zero experience . FYI Michael and Dario have done a preference swap deal, giving the other second preference. Be wary, be very wary! If you vote for either Michael or Dario then you could end up with the other person as Mayor. You won't be sure of the outcome due to the preferences. Vote for a candidate with common sense . Vote for a candidate with the most experience . Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Your best choic...

I am receiving a lot of feedback about the Michael Hewitson corflutes on stobie poles across #Unley. People are curious and confused about the message ' WATER ON TAP '. They are asking what it means. Just like the residents, I am confused; totally confused. To me its all a bit weird. If anyone can shed any light, then let me know. When voting for Mayor of Unley, don't waste your vote. Make your vote count. Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Your best choice!! Photo of Michael Hewitson corflute on a stobie pole - cropped to fit. written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035

I led the war on waste at #Unley Council. I moved a motion to ban plastic straws at Council venues. I also moved a motion to investigate the best way to eliminate the use of plastic bottles of water at Council venues. I led this campaign and will continue to do so as #Mayor. One of the mayoral candidates, Michael Hewitson , commended my stance on plastic straws. Recently he has become an anti-plastic convert at Council. Yet, he is putting up 100s of plastic corflute posters on stobie poles across the suburbs. Google research reveals that these corflutes will not be recycled and will go to landfill . So, I find it interesting that the Hewitson anti-plastic rhetoric does not match what he is doing by consuming so much plastic to display his face on stobie poles. His corflutes will take ~500 years to break-down . In contrast, I am maintaining my pledge to not use plastic corflutes . They are ugly and generate visual pollution. People are smart enough to know who to vote for....

When voting for #Mayor of #Unley, do not do the donkey vote . What is a donkey vote? It’s when you blindly vote 1,2,3 ... from the top down. What is a donkey vote? Ensure that you carefully select the best person to be Mayor of Unley. Select the person with the most experience, integrity and common sense. Your best choice is BOB SCHNELL. Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Don’t waste your vote! Don’t do a donkey vote!! Make your vote count. written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035

With the Unley Council election some candidates will give a preference to another person eg. by marking 1 and 2 on How to Vote information. What this means is that if you are not successful then you wish the candidate marked 2 to be the next preferred person. I have been informed via email from Dario Centrella that he and Michael Hewitson have swapped preferences for Mayor. That means that if you blindly follow the How to Vote of these 2 Mayoral candidates then you could get Dario or Michael as Mayor. I don’t support giving a preference. In fact, on merit, I would find it difficult to pick one. So, I won’t be indicating a second preference. It’s not my place. I believe that it should be left to you, the voter to decide. My stance is simply common sense. Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Your best choice! Don’t waste your vote!! #Unley #Mayor Written and authorised by Bob Schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035

Last Friday night I attended a street meeting with residents in Fullarton with regard to the high-rise developments on Fullarton Road. David Pisoni and Michael Hewitson were also there. In introducing himself, Michael Hewitson made this statement ... “In a month I will be either Mayor of Unley or a feather duster.” A rather weird  public statement. I immediately had imagery of me dusting the Mayor’s Parlour and using a locally sourced feather duster. #buylocal Puns aside, there is nothing fuzzy or feathery about me. If I am unsuccessful in my campaign to become Mayor, I will dedicate more time to community and charity activities and my involvement as a volunteer; and gardening and a spot of fishing. When it comes to voting, make the best choice, Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley Vote for a common sense candidate. Don’t vote for a Feather Duster! written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035 #mayor #unley

The Local Government Association has published the 150 words supplied by each candidate for councils across SA. Here's a link to search and view Unley candidates' profiles. Click on this link Here are my 150 words that will appear on the postal voting form. It's a summary of my electoral platform as candidate for Mayor of Unley. More detailed will be in your letterbox soon. Candidate Profile: Bob Schnell #Mayor4Unley I am a Goodwood Ward Councillor (for almost 20 years and Deputy Mayor for 3 years). For the past 2 years I've been a volunteer with the Unley Home Library delivering books to the elderly. I will bring to the role of Mayor commitment, leadership, experience and common sense. I care about our community and I do listen and follow-up. I am not a member of any political party. I support rate capping to keep rate rises low. I want to go back to basics to reduce the number of big costly projects, re-focus on fixing smaller local issues in our s...

It is important to get more dog friendly water fountains in our parks across #Unley. The new style of fountains are also more people friendly, enabling bottles to be easily filled. I'm passionate about improving the amenities in our parks. These fountains with dog drinking bowls will also help provide water to heat stressed koalas and other wildlife during summer. We need more of these fountains and as #Mayor I will push for that to happen. Driving change in Unley. Your best choice (by far)! Vote 1 BOB SCHNELL #Mayor4Unley The photo was taken by a local resident and sent with a thank-you note. Yes, the grass needs to be repaired around this new fountain. That will happen soon. Written and authorised by bob schnell 10 halmon avenue everard park 5035

We have lost so many big trees across the #Unley suburbs. So much lost green tree canopy! As #Mayor of Unley I will do whatever and explore every option, to reverse the decline. The major issue is a lack of real control of big trees on private properties. We need State Government support to increase Council's control and help stop the senseless felling of trees that get in the way of high density  development. It doesn't need to be draconian control, rather it needs a common sense approach. I want to see more Council funding of conservation grants to fund pruning and maintenance of these magnificent big trees. The annual budget for this activity is inadequate . I want to see trees given realistic values to deter them from being cut down. Not $50, not $100, not $500 ... they deserve a more realistic value to reflect their contribution to filtering the environment over their lifetime. Experts are suggesting values of $50,000 to $100,000 for the old and big trees. I...