BAG Newsletter - June 2025

As I am sitting at my desk preparing this Newsletter, I am looking at the rain running out of our roof gutter and observing all the trees being battered by the gale-force winds. At the same time, I am reflecting on how lucky we are that two large trees on both sides of our property, and close to our house, had large limbs removed last week!

We trust you have been as fortunate, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all our friends who are suffering on the farms. Life, in so many parts of the World, can be so cruel - as we are constantly reminded in our daily News reports.

Despite the record-breaking drought conditions that South Australia overall is experiencing this year, and the evidence of stressed trees and plants in so many of our Parks and gardens, we must express our grateful thanks to BAG’s dedicated Volunteers who are keeping an eye on the many public gardens established by our Group over the past 15 years or so. Both our Railway Stations, the Main Road and Woolies Car Park planter boxes, Barty’s Park and the Old Farmhouse Cottage garden in Blackwood Hill Reserve are “holding their own”.

Elsewhere in this Publication you can catch up on many of BAG’s current activities – and our plans for the rest of this year.

If you would like to participate in any of these worthwhile Community activities or Events, you would be made to feel most welcome. Simply check out the BAG Website shown below and send us a communication. No Annual Membership Fee applies.

With kindest regards

Geoff Bartlett

BAG Secretary and Newsletter Editor

OUR YEAR TO DATE - WHAT BAG HAS BEEN DOING

The RAILWAY STATIONS GARDENS WORKING BEES have been undertaken at BLACKWOOD STATION in FEBRUARY and APRIL and one only at COROMANDEL STATION on the first Saturday in MAY. (The February Working Bee had to be cancelled due to the extreme heat!)

THE CLEAN-UP AUSTRALIA DAY Event was held on Sunday 2nd March. A record number of participants turned up for our annual clean-up of Blackwood. It is always great to see some young children accompanying their parents and knowing that they are contributing to a worthwhile cause. It was the 35th anniversary of the Clean Up Australia initiative and we were delighted to receive a formal Certificate of Appreciation acknowledging BAG’s 16 years of continual participation. Please feel free to join us again in 2026 for this most rewarding experience.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

The annual statewide History Festival was celebrated again this May in the Mitcham Hills with almost 90 people participating in the four activities organised by the BAG History Group. This year’s events included a minibus tour around Belair National Park to learn about native flora and indigenous and colonial history; two train trips through the Adelaide Hills focusing on the work of the Ashby family and their properties at Wittunga and Watiparinga; and an illustrated talk at the Blackwood Community Centre about the district’s pioneers. While the events mainly focused on post European settlement, the Kaurna people were acknowledged throughout as the traditional owners of the land where the events took place. The train trip on Tuesday morning May 27 was a challenge following as it did Monday night’s horrific storm. However 20 brave organisers and participants met at Blackwood Railway Station at 9am and were rewarded later in the morning with blue sky and even a few rays of sunshine. As always, the lively and informative presentations were complemented by the plentiful refreshments at the end of each event.

OUR NEW LOCAL NEWSPAPER – “WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND WAITE”

This bi-monthly Newspaper production, initiated by our Local State M.P., Catherine Hutchesson, and supported by BAG, has proved very popular.

The next Edition (covering June and July) is due out shortly and will be obtainable FREE from the Supermarkets and a lot of local Shops which used to have copies of The Blackwood Times available. Highly recommended.

MAIN ROAD PLANTER BOXES

As reported in our February Newsletter, the four large planter boxes on the “islands” next to the Pedestrian Crossing on Main Road, are about to be rejuvenated. The Mitcham Council eventually agreed to BAG cutting down the existing Ficus trees at ground level and planting some more appropriate colourful specimens. This will be happening on Sunday 15th June. Incidentally, we are pleased to see that the facade of Terry White’s Blackwood Pharmacy has just received a coat of attractive green paint. This makes an ideal colour match back-drop for the greenery in the adjacent planter boxes.

BLACKWOOD STATIONMASTER’S COTTAGE ROOF REPAIRS

On 12TH November 2022 Blackwood and surrounding Districts were hit by possibly the most severe storm in our history. (Coromandel Parade was closed for about a fortnight whilst repairs were undertaken).

A very large branch from a Grey Box tree on Station Road came crashing down across the road and landed on the Whirley Bird vent installed in the laundry roof of the heritage-listed Cottage. This not only created gaps in the corrugated iron roof but allowed rainwater to flow through onto the ceiling below causing considerable damage.

We are happy to report that the problem has now been fixed, and we are hoping the damage caused will soon be repaired. We would like to thank our Local Member, Catherine Hutchesson, MP., for pursuing this concern on our Community’s behalf.

DISCOVER HAWTHORNDENE'S HERITAGE - SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS

BAG's History Group has published a brand new booklet! Discover Hawthorndene’s Heritage is a rich and engaging guide for anyone interested in exploring the unique past and character of this Adelaide Hills suburb.

The booklet traces Hawthorndene’s transformation from an early orchardist settlement into a thriving residential community, highlighting key moments such as the 1925 subdivision of Daniel Hewett’s estate, the creation of community parks, and the legacy of the Government Experimental Orchard—now the beloved Blackwood Forest.

Check them out here > https://www.blackwoodactiongroup.org.au/hawthorndene-heritage-walking-tours

FUTURE DIARY DATES

Waite Street Reserve Consultation - Until Monday 23 June at 5PM

Have your say on Council's proposed upgrade of the Waite Street Reserve.

>> https://yoursay.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/waite-street-reserve-upgrade

Or visit one of the three drop-in sessions at Tiwu Kumangka:

• Thursday 5 June from 5-7PM

• Tuesday 10 June from 3-5PM

• Saturday 14 June from 2-4PM

Woodlake Reserve Action Group (WRAG) Planting Days

Assist WRAG with planting their Nature Trail. Email: wrag.woodlake@gmail.com if you are interested in assisting!

We need volunteers for the following times:

• Friday June 27 – 9am to 12:30pm

• Friday June 27 – 1pm to 3:30pm

• Saturday June 28 – 9-30am to 12:00pm

• Saturday July 5 – 9-30am to 12 noon

• Sunday July 6– 10am onwards

Coromandel Station Working Bee - Saturday 5 July

Working Bee @ 9 to 11 am You are invited to join us for a rewarding gardening experience. All tools are provided plus Morning Tea to follow.

Mid-Year Thank You Dinner - Sunday 27 July

Join us at the Belair Hotel from 6.00 pm for BAG's Annual Mid-Year "Thank You" to our volunteers dinner. RSVP to Bernie Morgan by the 23rd of July: 0447 212 278 bernardmorgan1948@gmail.com

Cost: $20 per person, prepayment essential - EFT or other payment methods provided on RSVP

Blackwood's Got Talent

Shows postponed unfortunately due to exorbitant insurance costs.

Hawthorndene Centenary Celebrations - Sunday 6 October

An old-fashioned picnic at Hawthorndene Oval. More details coming soon.

WAITE STREET RESERVE UPGRADE

The City of Mitcham has been working on creating a vibrant new heart for the Blackwood District Centre since 2016. You are encouraged to “Have Your Say” as outlined in the document included with the hyperlink: https://yoursay.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/waite-street-reserve-upgrade

Act now and be part of this exciting addition to the re-vitalised Blackwood Centre.

PUBLIC ART WORK

Following BAG’s popular Stobie Poles murals initiative (which commenced in December 2020) , we were delighted to learn that a wall mural was recently approved by Council for the Shepherds Hill Road Public Toilets. We look forward to seeing this colourful mural completed and believe it will further add to Blackwood’s appealing streetscapes.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH BAG

If you have observed some of BAG’s activities around Blackwood, and would like to help, please feel free to join us at any of the projects or Planning Events shown above. It is a great way to meet you like-minded friends and you would feel very welcome.