13th September 2025. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
Update on the M2 Noise Issue
Beecroft in Bloom, The Beecroft Orchestra,
Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway,
Wanderers Bushwalking Group, An interview with Bindi Shah,
Beecroft Public School Multicultural Fair,
Rotary Short Film Festival, Carolyn Watt obituary,
Civic Trust Membership Subscription,
Construction at Wongala Crescent,
Local Justice of the Peace, Civic Trust Facebook page,
Hornsby Shire Council's August News Bulletin,
City of Parramatta News Bulletin, Recent Development Applications.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Saturday September 13 at 10:30 AHIMSA Upper Lane Cove Valley heritage bushwalk
Saturday September13 11AM to 4PM Beecroft Public School Multicultural Fair
Saturday September13Beecroft in Bloom
Thursday September 18Rotary Short Film Festival West Pennant Hills Sports Club,
New Line Road, Cherrybrook
Sunday September 21 at 2.30PM The Beecroft Orchestra, Cheltenham Girls High School
Sunday October 19 10AM to 5PM Cheltenham Recreation Club
Message from the President Dear fellow residents,
This eNews has a variety of items that should interest our
readers. We have a welcome update on the M2 noise
issue. The committee has received helpful advice from the
Department of Planning, the consent authority for the M2. We have
obtained a key 200 page document that we were unable to obtain earlier.
We have also been offered a face to face meeting but first we need to
digest the document. I strongly encourage any resident who feels they
are affected by the M2 noise to email your concerns with me, president@bcct2119.com.au .
Get your neighbours to register as well. The more we get on board the better.
If you shop at Beecroft you would have noticed the recent installation
of new illuminated advertising signs on the awning of one of the shops
in Hannah Street. With Councillor Verity Greenwood's support
Hornsby Council has promptly acted and told the owner that the new
signage does not comply and has requested its prompt removal.
I must mention the sudden passing of Carolyn Watt. Carolyn has been
actively involved in our local community for many years, including the
Trust, the Beecroft Garden Club, the Cheltenham Recreation Club, Probus
and choral groups. Regarding her involvement in the Trust, Carolyn was
on the Trust committee for over ten years and welcomed the committee to
her home on many occasions. She served as President and also for many
years as editor of the former paper bulletins that the Trust hand
delivered to your letterbox before the eNews went online. Carolyn
Watt will be missed by many within our community.
Update on the M2 Noise Issue Following
representations made by our local member Monica Tudehope MP to the Dept
of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure on behalf of the Trust, as well
as interaction between the Trust and the Department, the Trust has
obtained several key documents on the M2 extension.
These documents clarify the noise mitigation requirements of the design
and operation of the M2 extension. The Trust has now collected a large
number of relevant documents which will take some time to analyse.
They should However provide a solid factual basis for developing a case for improved or additional noise mitigation measures.
Latest Updates for Parramatta Council
Vision for Carlingford Parklands Design Plan now a step closer. CLICK HERE.
Council elects Charles Chen as new Deputy Lord Mayor. CLICK HERE.
Empowering locals with Parramatta’s sustainable living series. CLICK HERE.
Beecroft in Bloom: 12-13 September 2025
Spring is here! Beecroft in Bloom will return on Saturday 13 September
with flower sales in Beecroft Arcade thanks to Beecroft Garden Club,
demonstrations in Beecroft Place thanks to Royal Horticultural Society
of NSW, and colourful student artwork thanks to students at Beecroft
Public School.
Join us for the launch of Beecroft Spirit Gin at 6pm Friday 12 September
at Hannah's Restaurant and exclusive early access to the new gin
release.
More details at CLICK HERE. We hope to see you there!
AHIMSA Last
month the eNews published an article on AHIMSA. The former home
of Marie Byles, the first practising female solicitor in New South
Wales.
A reminder that Martin Fallding, who grew up next door to Ahimsa has
organised a short walk and a lunch at Ahimsa on Saturday 13th
September. Everyone is welcome. Details can be viewed CLICK HERE
The Beecroft Orchestra Beecroft Orchestra’s third concert for 2025 is on Sunday 21st September at 2.30 PM in the Performance Hall of Cheltenham Girls High School.
The concert program promises to be a joyful and energetic. It
features Brahms’ Hungarian Dance 5 and Beethoven’s much loved 5th Symphony.
As a real treat you will hear the amazing Gabrielle Zhong as cello
soloist leading the orchestra through Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations.
Tickets are available at the door or, by scanning the QR code, on the website CLICK HERE.
Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway For
all the train buffs who read the eNews we have a link to video created
by a heritage rail enthusiast who explored the remnants of the Zig Zag
railway which hauled ballast up from the Thornleigh quarry to complete
the railway track from Meadowbank to Hornsby. CLICK HERE to view the video on Youtube.
Walk with the Wanderers – Bushwalking in Sydney and surrounds
Explore Sydney’s bushland with a friendly walking group
Do you enjoy the bush, being outdoors, and good company? The Wanderers
is a local northern Sydney bushwalking group made up mainly of retirees
who love staying active and exploring Sydney’s wonderful bushland.
We walk every Monday with a fairly small group of
people (usually around 10-15). Walks alternate between shorter easier
routes and longer, more challenging ones – varying in length from around
6km to 16km – always with time for a relaxed lunch break. Our walks
take us all over Sydney and the surrounding areas.
A couple of times each year we head off on an “away week”
and spend a week exploring new areas, towns, and tracks. In the
evenings we’ll usually spend time together sharing stories over dinner.
Recent destinations include Merimbula, Snowy Mountains, Bermagui,
Gloucester, and Mittagong.
The Wanderers welcomes active people wanting to explore Sydney's wonderful bushland! There are no joining or walk fees.
If you’re interested in joining our group – or just to come along to one
of our walks to see what it’s all about – you can contact us at thesydneywanderers@gmail.com
or call Allan on 0414 674 899.
An interview with Bindi Shah OAM (by Deirdree Wallwork) Beecroft/Cheltenham has more than its fair share of people generous with their time.
One such is Bindi Shah. I knew her by name because I have seen how much she gives to the community.
I decided I would like to meet her, which I did last month. I
often refer to our suburbs as a melting pot and Bindi saw that aspect
when she was looking for somewhere to bring up her family.
Bindi was born in Nairobi and the family moved to India when she was 11.
After four years, they moved again, this time to London where Bindi
completed her education.
She was looking for a position and had interviews in Moscow and Germany.
But Australia won - she knew the language and felt comfortable driving
on the left hand side of the road. Bindi and her husband finally settled
in Cheltenham.
She and her husband immediately invested time in the community ; BPS
P&C, the Multicultural Fair; in fact anything which would help the
area. They saw an opportunity to raise money through garage sales and
joined Susan Day in this venture.
Bindi’s son’s help was enlisted: He carried the bucket in which people
put their donations/payments. This next incident shows clearly their
family values. At the end of one garage sale, her son’s bucket had no
money in it, so he put his own money in.
Not content with the garage sales, Susan and Bindi continued their
fundraising by having themed fundraising nights locally; they had a
Turkish night, a Bollywood night, a Salsa night, all raising funds for a
good cause.
Bindi also helps by pinning fabric for Days for Girls, completing
puzzles for Lifeline and has also started volunteering at The Dish on
Mondays. The second year of garage sale in 2023, Bindi and Susan
realised they should have a name and so WISEKidsWORLD was born. (Working
to improve and sustain education around the world for kids). Under this
initiative they raised funds for a slum school in Delhi, a school for
orphans in Uganda, and paying for a teacher’s salary through Mary
Mackillop in Timor Leste.
Susan and Bindi also did the Fred Hollows 60km walk in 2017 and were the third highest fundraisers at $9,100.00
Bindi is indefatigable. She has cooked for the Guru Nanak Kitchenette which serves the homeless at Martin Place fortnightly.
Bindi Shah certainly deserved that OAM she received in the King’s
Birthday Honours. I am in awe of her and I hope that after reading what I
have written, you are too.
Beecroft Public School Multicultural Fair Saturday 13th September 11AM to 4PM
Join the community for International Food, Market Stalls and Rides.
Gold coin entry.
Rotary Short Film Festival 18th September Rotary
clubs in your area are holding a Rotary Short Film Festival to showcase
community service projects that they are involved with locally and
globally. Clubs recently developed short films (approximately 3 minutes
each), outlining projects they are working on. We plan to show a variety
of these films from clubs around the Hills area.
We are delighted to invite Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust members to
this Short Film Festival. It is an excellent opportunity to understand
how Rotary creates impact in our communities and meet the people behind
those projects.
Event details:
Time: 7.30 PM for the show; 7 pm or earlier if you wish to order a meal
Venue: West Pennant Hills Sports Club, New Line Road, Cherrybrook
Cost: $10 per head to cover room and AV equipment costs, and a chance to win a raffle prize
Meals are optional in addition and may be purchased on the day from the bistro
Cheltenham Recreation Club Cheltenham
Recreation Club is holding an Open Day on Sunday 19th October.
Everyone is welcome; come and see what we offer, meet our friendly
members and discover plans for the future.
Carolyn Watt 03.07.1944 – 10.08.2025 Carolyn
Watt was described by her son as a force of nature. She was an
intelligent, funny, kind, generous, hard working, determined woman with
an infectious smile, a sharp wit, and a love of the natural world. She
cared deeply for her friends and for her community.
Carolyn
was a founding member of the Circular Keys Chorus, where for many years
she competed in the Sweet Adelines singing competitions in Australia
and in the USA. Later she joined the Urban Voices, which she loved and
enjoyed. She played and sang with the Singulele’s which as the name
suggests combined Ukulele playing and singing, which was great fun for
her. Singing was her greatest passion.
Carolyn was also heavily involved with Probus, where she later became
President and founded and named their popular “Culture Vultures” program
which focused on cultural activities for the group. Since 2015 she was a
valued member of the Beecroft Garden Club where she served as their
returning officer.
Carolyn was also deeply involved with the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic
Trust, eventually becoming President and writing the newsletter for a
number of years; she helped protect the heritage and character of
the local area and was very proud of the work she did for the community
and the environment.
Carolyn was also deeply involved with the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic
Trust, eventually becoming President and writing the newsletter for a
number of years; she helped protect the heritage and character of
the local area and was very proud of the work she did for the community
and the environment
After university Carolyn moved to Melbourne where she was hired as a
scientist at a research facility. She was very much a woman in a man's
world, reminiscent of the book “Lessons in Chemistry”. Her male
colleagues didn’t know how to treat her as she wasn’t a secretary or a
lab assistant, but a peer. After a few months the men asked her out to
Friday afternoon drinks at the pub where she learnt to drink beer,
despite not liking the taste. This seemed to do the trick as the men in
the lab started to see her not as a woman, but as a scientist and an
equal.
Carolyn passed away peacefully while sleeping at her home on the 10th of August.
Civic Trust Membership Subscriptions If
you have lived in Beecroft Cheltenham for any length of time, you would
have seen many changes. While change is inevitable, the Trust will
continue to be the voice of our local community. Please, join the Trust
so you can vote and let your voice be heard!
To join the trust.CLICK HERE.
Or if paying by EFT:
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust
BSB: 062 113
Account Number: 1006 8238
For our membership records, please email a copy of your payment receipt to membership@bcct2119.com.au
with your full name and address.
Construction of the New Residential and Commercial Development at Wongala Crescent Continues.
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust eNews The
Trust publishes this monthly eNews newsletter. If you would like
to receive this newsletter on a regular basis, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to the eNews.
Local Justice of the Peace Timothy
Abrams, a Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust committee member, has
generously offered his services as a Justice of the Peace for any
residents requiring this service.
Tim can be contacted on Mob 0417 662 405
Dr. Penelope Crossley has also generously offered her services.
Penelope is a practising solicitor and is happy to witness documents pro
bono for 2119 residents. Penelope can be contacted on 0449 232 474.
Civic Trust Facebook page
Every now and then the Trust’s Facebook Page includes interviews with interesting people who live in the area of postcode 2119.
The Facebook page also highlights weekly happenings in the Hornsby Shire
and Parramatta area, with areas of interest for our residents.
Julian Leeser MP. September Newsletter. The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's September News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's September News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
Recent Development Applications The
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust's web site now has links to recently
submitted Development Applications in the 2119 postcode area for both
Hornsby and Parramatta Shire Councils. This page will be updated
with every eNews publication. CLICK HERE To access them.
Objections to Development Applications and other correspondence with council can be viewed CLICK HERE
Keep our two suburbs strong and informed by being a member!
To support or join the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust, please visit our website. CLICK HERE.The
eNews has become our main method for disseminating information to the
community. We already send the eNews to many of our residents. We
encourage residents who receive the eNews to tell their neighbours and
friends and suggest they too subscribe. The eNews letter is
available to all who subscribe. Trust Membership is not a
requirement.
The eNews archives are available HERE. To subscribe to the eNews: CLICK HERE.
There is an active Civic Trust Facebook group; to view the Facebook CLICK HERE.
The Trust will assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
