Mayor4Unley

  In the heat of the current Federal election campaign, Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson is sending emails to residents across Unley asking them to support his bid at re-election in November. Strewth! Who wants to even think about a council election now?  🤪 He wrote: “Council elections coming up at the end of this year. I am being encouraged to run again … Should I decide to run again I will need your help to succeed.” I just wonder who is encouraging him to run again. Must be his family  😉 I can honestly say that not one of the Unley Councillors or staff members has told me that they are giving Michael any encouragement. In fact, one of the Councillors has posted on FB her displeasure with the mayor. She wrote: “The City of Unley’s Mayor’s recent conduct has found him guilty and in breach of the Local Council Act which he still thinks is silly.  The local media thinks the Mayor is about greater transparency for rate payers. If you read the legal report it will ac...

  I just received an email from Premier Steven Marshall. He was telling me about his Strong Plan and how to vote. He’s cutting it a bit fine as today is voting day; besides like 10-15% of people I have already voted; a week ago. The media and local commentators are predicting a landslide swing to Labor. And to cover their arses, their predictions are qualified by statements like ‘but the swing to Labor may be in the wrong seats’. Then I heard the Liberal Spin Doctor Senator Simon Birmingham talking and interpreting what he said, even he is doubtful of the SA Liberals returning to Government. My thoughts: It is unlikely for the Liberals to form government in SA. 6 months ago I blogged that Steven Marshall should be replaced if the Liberals were to stand a chance of being re-elected. BTW I also said that Anthony Albanese should be replaced for Labor to have a chance of winning. On the local front it is unlikely that Unley Councillor (from Fullarton Ward) and Liberal candidate Ms Jord...

  SA election 2022 Full marks to SA Environment Minister,  David Speirs  for committing to NOT use plastic corflute signs during the election campaign. He agrees with me (and most residents) about the visual and environmental pollution of corflutes. Other candidates are putting them up everywhere. I cringe when I see them on stobie and light poles. On another matter … I’m sure that candidates know their electoral boundaries, but that doesn’t stop them erecting signs outside the boundary. Driving along Leader Street (Goodwood/Forestville/Everard Park) I noticed that:  David Pisoni  (Unley) has signs in Badcoe;  Jayne Stinson  (Badcoe) has signs in Unley; and  Jordan Dodd  (Badcoe) has signs in Unley. The candidates just go into a frenzy and erect their signs in any vacant space. Sad to see this pollution in our streets.

 On Sunday I visited St Andrews church in Strathalbyn. A glorious old church built in 1848. It's the oldest Presbyterian building in SA that is still functioning as a church; now Uniting. However, after 173 years it needs extensive renovations to restore its former glory. Being on the National Trust Register of Historic Places, it deserves restoration. I encourage you to consider a donation to help with the funding . It will take a huge funding effort to complete the works which will be done in stages. The church secretary can be contacted on 0403 270 506 or email secretary@strathunitingchurch.org.au It will be wonderful to see the church fully restored 💗

 For many many years I’ve been a participant in a research project to determine if red wine and dark chocolate really protect against dementia and cognitive decline? It was tough consuming all that dark chocolate and red wine 🍷 The good news is that dark chocolate and red wine do help reduce the onset of dementia. Here’s a link to the story … https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2021/07/29/flavonoids-lower-dementia-risk/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20News%20-%2020210730

 You have to laugh at some of the official weather forecasts 😂 Rain is forecast, but just sunshine or Fine and sunny forecast, but it rains. Do they ever look out the window before issuing weather forecasts 🤔 By my statistics, the weather forecast is 50% seriously wrong.  Then it gets more silly 😜 Today it was reported that SA experienced the lowest temperature (in parts of the state) in 32 years. And to really exceed reality, it was reported that snow probably fell in parts of northern SA, but there was probably no one there to see it ie. it probably fell in the remote uninhabited regions 🤣 Yes silly, but we do need a laugh during COVID-19 lockdown 😷 If anyone did see snow today, then let me know and I will pass it on to the Bureau of Meteorology 👍 

  Here my thoughts on Federal politics … To have any chance of federal Labor winning the next election, it’s time for Anthony Albanese to be replaced. He’s just not cutting through and resonating with the people. I don’t think he’s got the ticker. His major fault is whinging about the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and not focusing on other issues. The trouble is that I can not see anyone on the opposition front bench suitable to replace him, other than Bill Shorten. I doubt that Labor will make the switch, but it should if it wants a chance to win. Any government needs a strong opposition; but Labor is failing on that account. Labor knows its problem, but doesn’t have the nerve to fix it. Besides there is no apparent alternative leader. 

  It seems that Unley Council has become a spring board into State politics. In the recent past we’ve had 2 mayors and now first-term Fullarton councillor Ms Jordan Dodd attempting to move to the SA Parliament. The election is a year away, yet so far I’ve found 2 glossy Liberal brochures about Jordan in my letterbox. Jordan is trying to win the seat of Badcoe and it will be a tough fight against the well entrenched Labor MP Jayne Stinson. I’m surprised that Jordan is running in Badcoe. It will be a tough fight. I would have preferred to see her running in the ultra safe Liberal seat of Unley, to replace David Pisoni MP. I think it’s time for a generational change in Unley and it would have been smarter for the Liberals to parachute Jordan into Unley. That’s my thoughts.

 It was sad to hear the news today that former Unley Mayor, Denis Sheridan has died, aged 76. Denis was Mayor back in the days when it was the done thing to do a 2 year term and then pass the baton. Not like today when being mayor is a career with political connections. Denis was a huge and prominent character known for his other life as a swing singer and a big band leader. Denis was commonly referred to as the singing Mayor. In fact, at the slightest opportunity, Denis would burst into song. A great way to defuse any situation. He was one of the best mayors at Unley Council. Certainly one who will be remembered, His passing saddens me. Memories of him continue to delight me. Some tales can not be told.

Clarice Becket If you haven’t been yet, then you must go to see the exhibition of works by Clarice Beckett. Her works and life story are incredible. She would have to be one of Australia’s greatest painters. It’s worth the price of a ticket. Here’s a tip: get there early and join a free guided tour. BTW due to popularity, the exhibition has been extended to 23 May 2021. https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/clarice-beckett-present-moment/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=solstice&utm_campaign=wm_claricebeckett_21

 Unley Council is proposing a reduction of the number of Wards from 6 to 5; and the reduction of the number of Councillors from 12 to 10. Consultation closes today so if you want to make a submission to Council then you must do it today (due 20 April). Here's a copy of my submission to Unley Council ... I don’t support reducing the number of Unley Council Wards from 6 to 5; and reducing the number of councillors from 12 to 10. It was proposed in the past (probably ~ 7 years ago) and was overwhelmingly rejected by council. My reasons are as follows. A reduction in the number of councillors will reduce the diversity of council. A diversity of sex, religion, ethnicity and age is important. It will be difficult to achieve more diversity with a reduced number. Council must have a priority to enhance its diversity and its connection with the community. Larger wards will make it difficult for candidates to campaign and represent the constituents. It needs to be remembered that most counci...

 Despite trees being marked to be saved, magnificent trees on the Mike Turtur Bikeway at Wayville were ‘accidentally’ cut down. Just total incompetence! Being told that the roots had been accidentally cut provides no relief. After all the consultation about the bikeway and trees to be saved; they’re gone! Shouldn’t there have been barriers placed around the trees just like Unley Council advises developers building near trees that are identified to be saved. Such a shame.

  Just what is Unley Council building on the road in front of Cherry Darlings Bakehouse, Forestville? No one in the community seems to know with many saying that they were not consulted. One councillor has said that it’s a zebra crossing (with flashing lights) from the tram station. I was also informed that consultation did happen a couple of years ago. Maybe that’s so, but no one seems to remember. Yes, it’s needed, but on a sharp bend in the road! That’s madness. Total madness! And 25m away at the intersection of East and Aroha Avenues, what is being constructed there? Looks like it will be a semi-roundabout. Whilst I’m concerned about the safety aspects of what’s being built, my main gripe with Unley is the total lack of consultation with the community re these 2 local projects. Maybe residents on the southern side of the tram line were fully engaged and it’s just us locals on the northern side who were forgotten. It’s not good enough Unley Council. Keep us informed of what’s ha...

  East Avenue What has happened to East Avenue in Black Forest?  😡😡 The section between the train line and tram line is breaking down terribly. It started breaking down 12 months ago. Strange given that the road was resurfaced about 3 years ago. Maybe it should have been rebuilt rather than just a fresh coat of bitumen. The same happened further down on Leah Street when a quick resurface had to be dug up and the road rebuilt; which should have been done in the first place. Unley Council needs to review the engineering of such infrastructure works. It’s blowing the budget to rebuild recently resurfaced roads. And don’t get me started on the laying of new gas pipes along East Avenue, Canterbury Terrace, Byron Road and throughout streets in Black Forest. Why do they dig trenches where the car wheels travel? Surely the trenches could have been placed away from the wheel line of cars. The resurfacing over the trenches is never a good job and results in a ‘lumpy’ ride for cars. It...

It looks like there will be quite a few candidates for the position of councillor, in Parkside Ward, Unley Council. It will be difficult to replace the calibre of Mike Hudson who has retired. He had a track record of speaking his mind and not being swayed by a faction. I met one of the candidates the other day and had a bit of a chat. My prediction is that due to Covid-19 there will be a lower % of residents voting. I reckon that those voting will be less than 20%.

SALA 2020 is almost here. It’s a strange year with Covid-19. I feel like I’ve already done #SALA. Two weeks ago I attended the #Unley launch of a pre-SALA event, hosted by an acclaimed local artist. Her works were stunning. My name is on the sold sticker on 3 of the paintings. I can’t wait until SALA is over and the paintings come home  ❤️

So many people have embraced TikTok - a ‘fun’ video app owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance. There are 1.6 million Australian users and more than 800 million global users. If you’ve downloaded it, you’re mad with no regard to your privacy and cyber security. All of your personal details are siphoned up and hosted on Chinese servers. There are global cyber security alerts about the danger of TikTok. Do yourself a favour and delete the app now! The Australian Government won’t block it (Chinese style) but it does highlight the extreme cyber risk of using the app.

I’m annoyed with myself and others  😡  at being the target of fake news delivered by a supposedly credible source. In the future I will make more effort to verify the information before posting it  😷

Onkaparinga Council hosts and supports many affordable arts and cultural events. It does it well and at a modest cost. I went down to Port Noarlunga yesterday to see the Beanies and Berets (and felting) exhibition. Secretly I was determined to buy a beanie that is just a bit different. I’m so pleased with what I brought home. A nice warm alpaca beanie; and just a bit different. For details about the exhibition, follow this  link Pop down and buy one and support local artists.

I was speaking with a resident who tuned in to listen to a recent #Unley Council meeting when the new tree planting plan was approved. The resident was annoyed that many elected members commented that so few residents had responded to the plan. That got her really mad. She commented that these days (and over the past year) the residents received little communication from Unley Council. The Messenger has gone (and you can only access it online via a subscription). The Council magazine Unley Life has disappeared. Haven’t seen one for a couple of years. If it is delivered then it’s lost in amongst the junk mail. There have been no newsletters from the councillors or mayor. Actually there was one recently delivered to some streets asking people to respond to the Tree Plan, but it was delivered after the close date for submissions. Residents are not happy with the lack of communication from Council. It’s just not good enough. Especially during Covid-19, council should have made a c...