Picture by Murray TrembathGloria Jean's at Gymea has closed its doors leaving business owner Sayeed Haque with a heavy debt to repay who came to Australia from Bangladesh and lives locally with his family which has occurred a few weeks before Christmas After working overseas and saving a substantial sum Mr Haque invested in a franchise for the once thriving coffee shop in the heart of Gymea Village about five years ago The premises occupied by Gloria Jean's in Gymea Bay Road is for lease "there was never enough money in the business" "I was losing a lot of money because I wasn't earning much and the rent was high," he said [the landlord] sent an eviction notice and asked me to shut down." Mr Haque said he was also told he must pay the remainder of his lease - a total amount of $248,000 "Gloria Jean's has the master lease with them so maybe they will pay it out and ask the money from me "I will have to go on a payment plan and work for the next 30 years to pay this debt regret they did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to customers The closure means Gloria Jean's at Engadine is the only remaining outlet in the chain in Sutherland Shire The first Gloria Jean's in Australia opened in 1996 in the Miranda shopping complex Further stores opened in other parts of the shire By 2004 there were more than 200 Gloria Jean's stores in Australia Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. 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Sydney Gymea’s got a new kid on an old block We’re talking about the recently opened Hazel Kitchen & Bar found within the Hazelhurst Arts Centre The property originally belonged to Ben and Hazel Broadhurst who gifted it to the community in the ’90s to create a vibrant arts hub celebrates their legacy with great food and creative vibes seasonal dishes inspired by the beautiful Hazelhurst gardens – think vibrant local produce transformed into seriously delicious plates With training from his uncle’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant he’s got the chops to make every bite impressive Drinks? Sorted. Sommelier Michael Hannken (yep, he’s worked at Quay and Bennelong) has handpicked a killer wine list packed with organic and sustainable drops from small bar manager Khye Saunder reimagines the classics with house-made liquors and drinks that are guaranteed to delight Owners James Lancaster and Zoe Wall (the duo behind Audley Dance Hall Café) want Hazel to be a welcoming space With Insta-worthy mid-century interiors (that stunning Breccia Rose marble bar is calling out to us) all you need to decide is whether to sit at the bar or chill on the deck with views of lush surroundings you can even say ‘I do’ here – yes Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us a site once feared by some locals as housing ‘witches and warlocks’ Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareAs Hazel joins a growing club of Sydney restaurants with first-name monikers including Jane the new all-day eatery at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Gymea – with a Michelin-trained chef in its kitchen – has a curious backstory When Hazel and Ben Broadhurst bequeathed their home and its three-acre plot to the Sutherland Shire Council in the 1990s it was overgrown and its owners were well-known spiritualists The flash new fit-out at Hazel Kitchen & Bar Gymea.Kieran Moore PhotographyRestaurateur James Lancaster says a 94-year-old local volunteer at the art facility told him she grew up thinking “there were witches and warlocks [there].” “The arts community had to fight hard with the footy crowd (who wanted playing fields on the site),” Lancaster says But an arts facility was always the wish of the couple (In addition to channelling ghouls and spectres from the beyond the Broadhursts were interested in organic farming so they would likely approve of Hazel’s direction.) but Hazel is the arts centre’s first restaurant Lancaster and partner Zoe Wall (who also run the Audley Dance Hall Cafe at The Royal National Park) have assembled an impressive team at the 197-seat Hazel Kitchen & Bar Chef Nils Herold started his career in the kitchen at his uncle’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant James Lancaster on the floor at Hazel Kitchen & Bar.Kieran Moore PhotographyHerold’s opening dinner menu includes roast duck crown three choices of steak and a hazelnut eclair a brunch carte features an omelette du jour and orange and cranberry sourdough; come lunch there’s vol-au-vents filled with chicken and mushroom and a prawn katsu sando with curried tartare sauce who previously worked at big-ticket Sydney restaurants Quay and Bennelong has been given the licence to create a “playful” wine list focused on small but if you’re not going to try something new in an arts facility They’ve tapped mid-century design touches for the dining room which is in a separate building to the Broadhurst’s original cottage In the same way Melbourne’s Heide Museum of Modern Art entwines food and art in the setting of a former home and sprawling gardens Lancaster points to the mix of ceramic exhibitions and art lessons currently running on the grounds “Naming the restaurant in honour of the philanthropic Hazel Broadhurst was important to us,” he says They are yet to spot any warlocks in the restaurant’s opening days “but there are possums in the roof we’re trying to get rid of” Open brunch and lunch daily; dinner Thu-Sun 782 Kingsway, Gymea, hazelgymea.com news and the hottest openings served to your inbox Gymea Gorillas Junior Rugby League Football Club not only have a commanding presence on the field but are leaving significant footprints off it with a $20,000 donation to the children’s cancer organisation Gorillas secretary Scott Miller said the club originally set a target of $10,000 but the enthusiasm among the individual teams to raise money became infectious The cheque was presented after all the games were finished yesterday “At the start of the season we had the guys from Sporting Chance come to present to us about who they are and what they’re about,” Miller told nswrl.com.au “It got everyone inspired and they set targets for each team within the club.” and each of them set out a program of cake stalls “They are the little symbols you attach to your Croc shoes and one team took it upon themselves to get the Gorillas club logo made into a jibbitz and they sold those,” Miller said “It was genius because they sold like hotcakes.” It is not Gymea’s first sojourn into raising funds for community causes Earlier in the year the club made special Anzac Day shirts which they sold to raise funds for the Cronulla Veterans Association It led to a cheque for $1,000 being presented Origin stars James Tedesco and Mark Coyne are also patrons of Sporting Chance with Coyne having an attachment to the club after relocating to Sydney to play with St George in 1989 “It’s the club getting together for something worthwhile and everyone has fun doing it,” Miller said we’re a Rugby League club primarily but we still have our place in the community Already people are asking us ‘What targets are we going to set next year?’ “Teddy retweeted a post we put up about congratulating everyone and the kids just loved that a big star like him noticed their charity work “It’s great to see a culture within the club of helping others and wanting to go bigger and better next year,” Miller said Todd knows Tamworth will rally for Magic Round The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Roosters v Bulldogs The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Panthers v Raiders This is probably not the page you’re looking for True Blue James Tedesco was like the pied piper at the Gymea Gorillas weekly training session this week The former Westpac NSW Blues skipper and current Sydney Roosters captain is also a patron for the ‘Sporting Chance’ children’s cancer charity The Gorillas handed over a $20,000 cheque to Sporting Chance last weekend and Tedesco arrived at training on Tuesday night to thank some of the junior players for their fund-raising efforts “I was a bit worried about what numbers would be like because we’re in the Semi-finals now so our younger age group teams are done for the year and no longer training,” Gorillas President “But I was shocked when I arrived because there was a line from the clubhouse all the way down onto the street – it was huge “I felt sorry for Teddy – he did signing after signing for a very long time “He is a true gentleman who thanked us all for what we’d done and explained how he got involved with the charity “Some of the kids were a little star-struck and nervous but he was great with them He was genuinely interested in what they had to say and asked them questions about their season Each of the 64 teams of the Gymea Gorillas were tasked with raising money and through those individual ideas and efforts the club doubled its original target of $10,000 “I’m very proud to be part of a club like this … there are a lot of good people here that have created a fantastic culture we see today,” Moyle said hand-made pasta and inner-city vibes flow at this buzzy suburban Italian spotPopular new restaurant Fior brings Surry Hills smarts and Totti’s-style antipasti to the Shire ShareSydney June hit list See all stories.1 / 6Fior’s crowded buzzy dining room.Edwina Pickles2 / 6Go-to dish: Mafalde corte its twisted strands coated in cavolo nero pesto and stracciatella.Edwina Pickles3 / 6Skull Island prawns with 𝄒nduja butter.Edwina Pickles4 / 6Mussels awash with the gentle flavours of fennel dill and a sherry vinaigrette.Edwina Pickles5 / 6Roman beans in an anchovy-spiked bagna cauda dressing.Edwina Pickles6 / 6Tiramisu: a marvel of lightness and richness.Edwina PicklesPrevious SlideNext Slide14.5/20How we score It’s a warm blanket over the knees – like the one left out so invitingly by hospitable restaurateurs to soften the chill Good operators bank on its approachability This is by way of warning that the mafalde corte pasta ($28) at Fior is green twisted strands are coated with even more green – a savoury cavolo nero pesto – under a creamy cloud of stracciatella It makes a lovely upgrade to your usual-suspect pasta In fact, I’m getting severe Surry Hills flashbacks in the crowded, buzzy dining room, with dressy people sipping negronis and smashing anchovies onto focaccia. The antipasti are a statement of intent, with options from South Coast oysters to Vanella burrata, Kinkawooka mussels, LP’s mortadella, and Saison salami. Some are kept simple, some are elevated; all can be shared. So super-fresh arrowhead calamari ($24) has a light, crunchy batter and an aioli made punchy with habanero chilli. Mussels are awash with the gentle flavours of fennel, dill and a sherry vinaigrette ($19), a nice dish to pick at. In good old-school style, there are house wines, which allow a lower price point ($12) for the cash-strapped. (Please, everybody, bring back house wine.) Here, it’s a pinot grigio from Victoria’s King Valley, and a very Italian blend of montepulciano, negro amaro and aglianico from the Barossa Valley’s Colours of the South. Hear, hear. With the savvy Lucchetti Krelle involved in the design, and Rosier project-managing, it’s an attractive yet simply clad space, with smart tile work, brushed metal, and the glow of a busy open kitchen, run by head chef Will Lawson (Fred’s, Ms G’s, Arthur). The L-shaped room has an awkward entrance, with high stools lining a bar, and closely packed tables throughout, with some – less requested in winter – in a covered wrap-around terrace that will be delightful in summer. On this jam-packed Saturday night, there can be waits for food. A highlight – and one that tastes really Italian – is a platter of charred, flat Roman beans ($12) tossed in anchovy-spiked bagna cauda dressing. Good on the side of a rib-eye steak ($120), spaghetti with pipis and bottarga ($36), or Skull Island prawns ($45). Skull Island prawns, split and scorchy from the grill, with 𝄒nduja butter.Edwina PicklesAdvertisementSplit and scorchy from the grill, they’re spiced up with 𝄒nduja butter ($45). Getting the meaty meat out of the shell may be a wrestle, but it’s worth it for depth of flavour. It’s also worth a fresh, sharp 2021 Verdicchio Borgo Paglianetto Terravignata ($17/$70), from the Le Marche region. A cute little Italian gelato trolley is pushed from table to table, offering scoops of lemon, hazelnut, pistachio or chocolate gelato ($12) hidden in lidded pozzetti. But it’s hard to go past the tiramisu ($18). Not because it’s good old soggy, heavy tiramisu, but because it isn’t. It’s a marvel of lightness and richness, with cloud-like cakiness held together by whipped sabayon, meringue and mascarpone, under the crunch of chocolate-coated cacao nibs. Fior’s tiramisu is a marvel of lightness and richness.Edwina PicklesFior comes packed with good ideas, and it’s already clear how the local populace will get into its groove, from early pasta nights during the week to big tables and celebrations at weekends. There will always be room in a shopping village like Gymea for cosy Irish bars like The Snug next door, and sugar-scented cafes such as The Portuguese Bakery down the road; but this is a step up. And, I hope, a sign of good things to come for every suburban shopping village in a 25-kilometre radius from Surry Hills. Vibe: Bringing Surry Hills buzz to the Shire Go-to dish: Mafalde corte with cavolo nero pesto and stracciatella, $28 Drinks: Italian and local beers, a dozen aperitivi, and an Italian-accented wine list with accessible prices and $12 house wines Fine-dining team opens family-friendly Italian restaurant Fior in The ShireContinue this series Can’t handle long cafe queues? This quick-serve kiosk is your crowd-control cureWhen appetites are rewarded crowds keep coming back for more at Self Raised Snack Shoppe in Bexley North. ‘Nothing over $30’: Kings Cross drinks guru defies tough times to open surprising new barDavid Spanton’s clever new venture on Bayswater Road proves luxury can also be affordable. Stonkingly good bar food and Euro aesthetic set this stylish inner west spot apartPets and children are welcome at new Marrickville small bar We Three, run by a mother-and-daughter duo serving excellent snacks. Picture suppliedIdentifying a demand in the community Gymea Bay Public School has opened its new autism space to support students with additional needs The Inclusive Education Hub has three classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 The classes are funded and staffed by the NSW Department of Education Inclusive Education Teacher Alisha Zahra said it was a massive milestone for the school and the community "The Department of Education asked our principal if she would be interested in opening up the hub at our school and it's something she's very passionate about," Ms Zahra said "She's come from schools in Campbelltown where there are about seven classrooms for children with additional needs." the school had a significant renovation to convert its current learning spaces into three purpose-built learning areas Director of Educational Leadership for Sutherland Principals Network Katherine Horner Education Secretary Murat Dizdar and Gymea Bay Public School principal Cara Davidson with students Adonis Picture supplied"We have two classes at the moment for students from Kindergarten to Year 1 with high-functioning autism," Ms Zahra said "They're in small classes with specialised teachers and learning support teachers We want to integrate them into the schooling system so we do sport together and have buddy classes with the mainstream students but the students in our hub need a lot more support and flexible learning environments." The hub has tables with rounded corners and a small breakout room designed for students who may need withdrawal space after a sensory overload There are also slightly modified toilet facilities "We also have a trampoline if a student needs that physical release because jumping and rocking help them regulate," Ms Zahra said and there is more knowledge about autism," she said "More parents are asking questions before their child starts school and it's nice for our mainstream students to learn about inclusion." "There aren't many of these spaces in Sutherland Shire We've been lucky and proud that we can offer this to our community," she said "We've brought together a group of autistic children who need individualised support with a committed It's about integrating students across all aspects of our school I'm proud to have this available in our area It doesn't only support students at Gymea Bay but also students beyond and we've had no pushback from the community NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said the department was proud to offer an inclusive learning environment to 800,000 students "Gymea Bay Public School believes that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in a supportive educational setting and this hub represents the school's commitment to that vision," he said The school hall was packed for the opening of the Inclusive Education Hub Picture suppliedIt is estimated that at least one in 40 Australians have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum For Autism Awareness Day (April 2), Aspect/Autism Spectrum Australia launched a campaign to enhance the public's understanding of autism and provide practical guidance on how Australians could better support people on the autism spectrum A recent world-first study from the University of South Australia conducted in partnership with Flinders University revealed autistic students needed more support to fit in at school and experience positive relationships Lead researcher Kobie Boshoff said a school's physical and social environment played a crucial role crowded spaces and unpredictable routines can bullying interpersonal difficulties and academic struggles often marred autistic students' school experiences Sensory-friendly spaces and flexibility are crucial to a more inclusive experience." He said autistic students' school experiences were often marred by bullying "Schools must prioritise social inclusion alongside academic success," he said caring and supportive school staff can make a significant difference." St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering education, health and general community news. Email: ekolimar@theleader.com.au who responded two years ago to a serious litter and rubbish issue at Gymea Bay Baths have significantly improved the situation but say there is still a long way to go The regular clean-ups by about 20 volunteer members of Baycare Gymea Bay were acknowledged at the last meeting of Sutherland Shire Council where it was decided to seek help from the state government for technology to capture microplastics and plastic pollution at the location The council will also press the government to improve water quality and Sydney Water to replace the sewage system running through the reserve which is blamed for leaking and / or overflowing into the waterway Picture by Murray TrembathBaycare founder Mat Hunt and Young Environmental Citizen of the Year Jenson Wade spoke at the meeting in support of the motion put by Cr Joanne Nicholls Mr Hunt said Baycare was formed in the summer of 2022-23 "following a period where the Gymea Bay Baths rubbish and litter situation could only be described as consistently putrid" The problem was largely caused by the large number of people who fished from the baths and they wanted to see the area treated with respect adjacent Coonong Creek and surrounding bushland were frequently strewn with rubbish soft drink and energy drink bottles and cans and discarded fishing line and hooks," he said "We have sometimes witnessed these items simply thrown in the water and native birds and even a sea turtle becoming tangled in fishing lines." members of Baycare agree there has been a noticeable improvement in the rubbish and litter situation Part of the improvement had resulted from working with the council's waste management division and the state fisheries department leading to the installation of extra bins and boxes to place hooks and lines Picture by Murray TrembathMr Hunt said good working relationships had been established with state and federal MPs giving an understanding of who and what department is responsible at different levels of government for each issue during our clean-ups and many of them agree that keeping the area clean and deterring anti-social disrespectful abusers needs to occur," he said needed to be investigated in conjunction with more supervision by fishing inspectors and revised penalties for those disrespecting the area Picture by Murray Trembath"Education in appreciating our wonderful and unique natural environment is another part of this," he said Sharon Vaughan said a lot of rubbish was washed from the baths into adjacent Coonong Creek "I try to clean it up at low tide," she said "The majority of rubbish comes from the fishers - bait packets and takeaway food wrappers said the baths had silted up over the years from when he learnt to swim there at the age of five Shailene Nataly blamed past and present councils for the ongoing problems Another resident said the existing strong light which illuminates the baths at night and attracts fishers 24-7 Water quality at Gymea Bay Baths continued to be graded as Very Poor in the 2023-2024 State of the Beaches Report The report said there had been a decline in overall water quality across the Sydney region from the previous year including significant rainfall and flooding in April". "Microbial water quality at Gymea Bay Baths has shown trends of declining microbial assessments over the last five years," the report said "This site is susceptible to faecal contamination with many potential sources including stormwater sewer chokes and from elsewhere within Port Hacking "Swimming should be avoided during and for up to three days following light rainfall at all estuarine swimming sites or if there are signs of pollution such as discoloured water Of the other estuarine swimming locations in Sutherland Shire Como Baths and Gunnamatta Bay Baths were graded Poor Horderns Beach and Lilli Pilli Baths were all rated Good Water quality at these sites was suitable for swimming most of the time with elevated levels of enterococci mostly recorded following rainfall Seven of the eight ocean beaches were graded as Very Good or Good North Cronulla Beach and Oak Park were graded as Very Good The report said Water quality at these sites has been consistently excellent for many years and is suitable for swimming almost all of the time Cronulla Beach and Shelly Beach were graded Good Shelly Beach declined from Very Good in the previous year The report said Cronulla Beach occasionally recorded elevated enterococci levels during dry weather or after light rainfall and both beaches often recorded elevated enterococci levels following heavy rainfall "Water quality at Boat Harbour is often susceptible to faecal contamination following moderate to heavy rainfall and occasionally during dry weather," the report said water quality was mostly suitable for swimming during dry weather conditions with 78 per cent of dry weather samples within the safe swimming limit." yet-to-be-delivered project that also aims to empower young people Picture suppliedIn celebration of Youth Week (week ending April 17) the NSW government has rewarded Gymea Community Aid and Information Service with a substantial cash gift The Executive Director of Early Intervention The Gymea provider was one of 16 organisations that received up to $50,000 to design and deliver projects under the Youth Opportunities program The grassroots projects rewarded aim to empower and engage youths aged 12-24 in their communities Youth are closely involved in the projects every step of the way from identifying what their peers need to workshop the proposals and delivering the projects This innovative approach drives young people's connection to their communities and allows them to forge leadership Gymea Community Aid's Uniting Generations program aims to empower young people to lead and participate actively in their communities Intergenerational connections are fostered through storytelling with young people facilitating public showcase events with elders Young people participate in skill development workshops strengthening a sense of belonging and empowerment The project stems from the Empowering Youth to Inspire Change program It all started in 2023-2024 when Gymea Community Aid facilitated that youth leadership project Multicultural NSW funded that project for another four years at the end of 2024 About 100 youth leaders participated in social inclusion and anti-racism projects They brainstormed community harmony ideas and developed a project idea - Uniting Generations The group included young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds who have felt excluded from decision-making and disconnected from their community Gymea Community Aid General Manager Renee Hall said feedback from youth leaders highlighted that community harmony events anti-racism and skill development workshops within schools significantly affected feelings of belonging and connection participation and feelings of empowerment," she said "Young people believed that a community harmony event focusing on intergenerational activities and anti-racism would foster better relationships among diverse groups." which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025 will work with its youth ambassadors and project partners including Sutherland Shire Council and Georges River Council to deliver the Uniting Generations project in the next year Picture supplied St Catherine's Laboure Catholic Primary School at Gymea has celebrated its 70th anniversary Recognising the vision of the school's founding charism based on the work of the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange County the school community celebrated with memories dating back to 1954 Following a mass and the opening of a time capsule the new St Catherine's Statue and entrance garden were blessed during a ceremony current and former students and families enjoyed a photographic memorabilia display through the decades Student performances and guided school tours were also featured Picture suppliedWith the increasing sense of loneliness and the rising suicide rates among Australians Gymea Anglican Church is featuring the theme 'Finding purpose and hope in life's trials' in a series of services beginning October 20 To start this theme the church is hosting an Australian opera singer at the 10am guest service Australian Opera soloist Angela Brun has won international awards and performed in UK and Australia Because He Lives and It Is Well Within My Soul Speaker at the service will be Gymea Senior Minister was Chaplain at Norfolk Island for seven years and has been leading Gymea Anglican Church in the past three years Picture by Murray TrembathFormer St George rugby league star and long-time coach at the Gymea Gorillas has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day honours The award acknowledges his "service to rugby league as a player "I wanted to put something back into the game "There are plenty of other volunteers who give great service "None of this would have happened without the support of my wife Lyn" "It was a great joy playing for the Dragons with some great players - I loved every moment," he said "It has also been tremendous being part of the local community in which we live I have done a lot of coaching and helped out where I can My parents showed that back at Werris Creek Wynn's two sons love their footy just as much Nathan played his final game for Gymea Junior Rugby League Football Club last year at the age of 38 Another generation of the family is showing promise but is learning the skills with Cronulla-Caringbah club "I think he could get into a bit of footy," his grandfather said Wynn started playing at the age of four in the little town of Werris Creek He joined St George from Newcastle Wests in 1979 was named Rookie of the Year and played a major role in the grand final win over Canterbury that year Wynn starred for NSW in the first State of Origin game in 1980 and was selected in the Australian side for the tour of New Zealand Graeme Wynn on the burst in the 1985 grand final loss to the Bulldogs Picture by John VeageHe played 197 first grade games for St George including the 1988 midweek Panasonic Cup win and 7-6 grand final loss to the Bulldogs in 1985 before finishing his career with two seasons at Wests Wynn quickly linked up with the Gymea Gorillas He coached sides from the Under 8s to First Grade over more than 23 years Wynn also coached the Dragons' top rep teams for over 20 years and was a director of the club until the merger with the Steelers Picture by Murray TrembathSophia and Frank Houllis are looking forward to building their "forever home" at Gymea Bay after success at a weekend auction The couple outbid a strong field to snare the late 1950s cottage on a 523 square metre block at 9 Ballar Avenue for $1.805 million the real estate market in Sutherland Shire is springing back with a bigger than normal increase in homes for sale for this time of the year and this is supported by CoreLogic data revealing a 21.6 per cent increase over the four weeks to August 25 compared to the previous five-year average 'People sick of waiting': Shire real estate market springs back The outcome of auctions last weekend in the shire was "a mixed bag" five sold prior to auction and six were withdrawn Interested spectators at the auction of 9 Ballar Avenue Picture by Murray TrembathThe Ballar Avenue property where the land size does not allow a dual occupancy attracted prospective buyers keen to undertake major renovations or a "knock down-rebuild" Ms Houllis said she and her husband had been looking since February this year for a property like this "It has a very sunny position and the surroundings are amazing," she said "We are going to knock it down and build our forever home for our four children." said the price of $1.805 million was "well above the owner's expectations" Mr Salvatore said the price guide of around $1.5 million was based on recent sales in nearby Fletcher Avenue and Vernon Avenue There were six registered bidders on the day Neville Edmonds (Gymea Hotel) and Nicholas Tynan (Tynan Hyundai) Organisers of the 41st Gymea Village Festival with new features for an expected crowd of about 50,000 people Last year's festival was also unforgettable - because of the rain which bucketed down in the morning Gymea Chamber of Commerce president Esna Lee said many stallholders packed up and went home but those who stuck around were "smashed" when the sun came out in the afternoon and drew about 20,000 people "People are crying out for events like this," she said Crowds line Gymea Bay Road for the 11th Gymea Lily Festival on October 13 Sutherland Shire Libraries Gymea Bay Road between President Avenue and Kinsgway will be closed for the festival has been given the job of managing the festival and has made a number of changes including a different layout for the 200 stalls to give existing shops more exposure pony rides and go-karts in the hotel car park are other attractions The main stage will be near Kingsway and amusement rides near President Avenue Gymea Bay Hotel will also have a reptile show and live music - a soloist through the day and a band OMG Decadent Donuts Sutherland Shire and C3 Training Gymea will have special displays Roving entertainers will include Beeswax and Bottlecaps -Jerry Hatricks Gymea Bay Hotel and Sutherland Shire Council A young fair-goer vindicates the chamber of commerce's determination to go ahead in 2023 despite the early downpours Picture by John VeageTynan Hyundai will be displaying seven to eight cars Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5N and the Tucson hybrid "The festival gives people an opportunity not necessarily to buy an electric car but to look see and feel it and get an idea of what's coming in the future" for a range of cost-of-living relief vouchers valued at more than $1000 "We have gone to local businesses such as the butcher Tickets are free - come and see us at the booth." This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A squatter took possession of a little fibro cottage before it was sold for almost $1.5million with the huge sum of money given to his widow Ross Paul maintained the one-bedroom property at Gymea Bay, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire for nearly 50 years after Joseph Louis Saric died in July 1968 The pair lived in nearby suburbs and Mr Paul organised the funeral for the Croatian migrant when he died - however it is unclear if the two men were friends Mr Paul later died in 2018 with the executor of his estate launching legal proceedings that would allow him to sell the property He argued Mr Paul was the owner of the cottage by adverse possession - a term commonly known as 'squatter's rights' NSW Supreme Court Justice Francois Kunc found in May that Mr Paul was the rightful owner He concluded that none of Mr Saric's heirs were entitled to the cottage as nobody had made a claim for it and the 40-year limitation period had ended in 2009 'What has been proven is that Mr Paul arranged Mr Saric's funeral and then treated Mr Saric's fibro cottage at Gymea Bay as his (Mr Paul's) for the next nearly 50 years until his own death in 2018,' Justice Kunc said Mr Saric died of cancer in July 1968 when he was in his mid-40s and the divorcee did not leave a will and had lost contact with his family Justice Kunc said Mr Saric had died 'without family and Mr Paul took it upon himself to notify the authorities of the death and then held a funeral a couple of days later The judge ruled Mr Paul did all the things a homeowner might do: he insured the house and split the cost of a fence with a neighbour Mr Paul even rented out the house from at least 1995 The court found it was 'highly unlikely that Mr Paul would have let the cottage fall into disrepair' the judge referred to 'the possibility that Mr Saric may have told Mr Paul that the latter could have the cottage perhaps in return for care provided by Mr Paul' But he said there was no evidence to this effect Justice Kunc found 'the precise nature of Mr Saric's relationship with the late Mr Ross Paul is not apparent from the evidence' Macquarie Law School Professor Cathy Sherry told the Sydney Morning Herald this was 'a fairly typical adverse possession case.'  She said it showed how 'people can lose track of land, and can lose track of relatives'. The court heard Mr Saric may have been survived by his mother and at least one sibling.  Ms Sherry said there was 'no doubt' after Mr Saric's death his family would have had a claim to the house, but 'like all claims to land, there's a time limit – and they didn't assert it in the necessary period of time'.  The time period for how long a squatter must be living on a property before having rights to it differs across states and territories in Australia. In South Australia squatting is illegal, but squatters can apply for ownership if they can prove they have lived in the property for 15 years without the consent of the owner. In Victoria, squatters can apply for ownership after living in a house for 15 years, while in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia the time frame is 12 years. The law dates back to 1900 in NSW, and was originally aimed at communities where a large number of people were illiterate. 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That shot of the espresso pouring straight into the cup If you think so too, hop to Fior in Gymea where a Sydney-fied version of the exceptionally photogenic affogato rides on a sweet doily with cobalt blue accents travel spots and more – curated by those who know “We always love a little moment at the end of the meal,” Fior co-owner Rebecca Fanning tells Broadsheet “And the affogato is synonymous with Italian and we loved the images and videos coming out of Italy – [we wanted] to do something which we hadn’t really seen in Sydney.” @fior.restaurant This One Thing: Steak Frites Baguette from Frank’s Deli This One Thing: AP Bread’s Salted Pistachio and Rhubarb Flan This One Thing: Chashu Pork Belly and Ramen Egg Pie from Blood’s Bakery Charcoal Chicken and Rosewater Desserts: A Local’s Guide to Merrylands Picture FacebookA well-known Cronulla mall restaurant is on the move to Tradies Gymea Albi's Taverna will close in Ocean Grove on June 29 and reopen as Folk by Albi at Tradies Gymea on Thursday July 4 Tradies restaurant has been closed for months while an upgrade of the kitchen and dining area and lounge has been carried out Jensens were negotiating to take over the catering at Tradies Tradeis' new Folk Lounge & Dining Picture FacebookAlbi's said in a social media post we announce our last service at Albi's Taverna will be on 29th June we are excited to open Folk by Albi at Tradies Gymea Thank you for your years of support at Albi's Taverna "Visit us in Cronulla to enjoy Albi's classics like Gnocchi Sorrentina and 48-hour Sous Vide Pork Belly one last time We're moving the whole team to Folk and can't wait to welcome you "Note: Bookings after 29th June and gift vouchers will be honoured at Folk by Albi "We're thrilled to announce that Albi Cuni of Albi's Taverna in Cronulla will be joining the team creating his famous flavoursome dishes and sharing his passion for exceptional hospitality at Folk Lounge & Dining Picture suppliedA young Sutherland Shire aspiring filmmaker has scooped several awards at the 2024 SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3) Gymea's Connor Tattersall made the film After Adam He won the SF3 Kids High School Award for Best Film Best Cinematography Best Editing and Best Actor (shared award) Hosted by Palace Chauvel Cinema at Paddington the annual festival celebrated its 10th year in 2024 It attracted hundreds of entries from across the world This near level waterfront property presents an opportunity for those seeking a lifestyle of tranquillity and natural beauty With breathtaking water views from nearly every room you will discover an absolute gem that is bursting with potential Listing agent Adam Payne from Luxe Real Estate said this is the first time the home has been available for sale "Its prime location on the water's edge invites you to create your family's dream home." The excellent floor plan allows for seamless renovation and includes five bedrooms and three bathrooms The heart of the home lies in the large kitchen which seamlessly adjoins the dining and lounge areas step out onto the full-width balcony where you can savour your morning coffee or enjoy evening sunsets while gazing across the bay The downstairs rumpus room offers versatility - a haven for kids' playtime or an ideal self-contained retreat for in-laws The double carport ensures convenient parking while additional off-street parking accommodates visitors Entertaining is a breeze with the in-ground pool overlooking the water Imagine hosting gatherings with the bay as your backdrop the concrete slipway provides direct access to deep water "With a land size of approximately 847 square metres this property beckons you to explore its brilliant potential." If you have a story for me email ndavey@austcommunitymedia.com.au I enjoy highlighting businesses and events in our community through features and special publications and have been doing so for more than 21 years Picture by Chris LaneThrough talking to customers at the Gymea fruit shop where she works JoJo Burana heard heart-breaking stories of children at local schools being diagnosed with cancer who came to Australia from Thailand in 1988 decided she wanted to do something to help Ms Burana came up with a plan to raise funds for Kids with Cancer Foundation by selling her hand-made bracelets in NRL team colours for $5 from Fruiticious where she has worked for the last seven years JoJo Burana's hand-made bracelets and money jar that was placed in the shop Picture suppliedMs Burana started on April 16 with an "ambitious goal" of raising $5000 by the end of the year many of whom handed over a much bigger sum - $20 The result was Ms Burana was able to raise more than she hoped for Jojo Burana with regular customer Brad Tapfield at Fruiticious Gymea in 2023 Picture by Murray TrembathMs Burana and her son Jay recently visited Prince of Wales Children's Hospital where they donated the $6200 proceeds to the Kids with Cancer Foundation accepted the donation and showed them the children's cancer ward Ms Burana couldn't estimate how many bracelets she made had some dinner and began making bracelets," she said Picture supplied"I did it because I feel it is important to provide assistance to generate more care and research to help fight the battle of cancer to possibly provide children and their families the opportunity to experience a greater quality of life Picture supplied"I would like people who supported me to know how much we raised who believe in this and are willing to contribute to such a cause." Picture John VeageThe Gymea JRLF Club takes pride in supporting veterans and have raised $1000 for the Cronulla Sutherland Veteran Association by donating $5 from the sale of their Gymea Gorilla Anzac shirts During half-time of the Emerging Cup game at Corea Oval Gymea Club President Jordan Moyle and Secretary Scott Miller presented a check to Cronulla Veterans President Edward Lopez This visit highlighted the important role that junior league football plays in shaping the well-being and skill sets of young people in our community Mr Lopez said he grew up playing junior league in the Shire and he directly benefited from participating in junior league football "These formative years were essential for my personal and athletic development and leadership I learned were applicable in all areas of my life "Junior league football is far more than just a sport; it nurtures future leaders and well-rounded citizens." Thirty five year photographer for Fairfax -former NSW Chief Photographer for FCN and now Photo Journalist for the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader in southern Sydney.Official photographer for Cycling Australia (20 years) Official photographer for Surf Life Saving Australia (30 years) Founding Life Member of Cronulla Boardriders Club and Life Member of Surfing Sutherland Shire among other things. not only did the club achieve their ambitious goal with the players and parents of every one of their sixty plus teams involved Sporting Chance ambassador James "Teddy" Tedesco the Sydney Roosters captain and former Australian and NSW captain Club secretary Scott Miller said the committee decided at the start of this year they wanted to build on their existing great culture by "getting the whole club involved in supporting a charity" who has been involved with Gymea Gorillas for many years suggested Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation The charity was formed in 1996 by former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor Olympian Raelene Boyle and triple Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton The not-for-profit organisation financially supports mobile home care units that help make life easier for children with cancer and outreach programs for kids with cancer from regional areas Scott said a presentation by Sporting Chance to the club "resonated with a lot of coaches and managers" "We thought we would set a target of of $10,000 - about $200 a team - and let each of them decide on how to raise it," he said while one innovative group got a Gymea Gorillas insignia put on croc shoes and sold them behind the canteen on game days "What was most pleasing was that all the kids contributed in some way "They took ownership for hitting the mark and it wasn't just mums and dads doing the work." Scott said the club president Jordan Moyle was the driving force "Jordan said he didn't care if he had to sell one of his arms or legs they were going to reach the target," Scott said Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time It was a modest fibro cottage in Sydney’s south that eventually sold for an immodest $1.5 million But beyond the predictable tale of sky-high property prices was a legal mystery about its ownership This is how one man became its owner under so-called “squatter’s rights” The cottage in Gymea Bay was sold this year for almost $1.5 million.Credit: Kate Geraghty At the heart of the mystery were two men who lived in near-adjacent suburbs in the Sutherland Shire Croatian migrant and ship’s engineer Joseph Louis Saric aged in his mid-40s when he died of cancer was the original owner of the one-bedroom cottage The court found the divorcee had lost contact with his family and did not leave a will notified authorities of Saric’s death in hospital in July 1968 and organised his funeral He said “perhaps” because the nature of the relationship between Saric and Paul was “not apparent from the evidence” “What has been proven is that Mr Paul arranged Mr Saric’s funeral and then treated Mr Saric’s fibro cottage at Gymea Bay as his (Mr Paul’s) for the next nearly 50 years until his own death in 2018,” the judge said the executor of his estate applied to the court for orders enabling him to sell the property on the basis that Paul had become the owner of the cottage by adverse possession The judge found Paul did all the things a homeowner might: he split the cost of a fence with a neighbour While there was no documentary evidence before 1995 Kunc said it was “highly unlikely that Mr Paul would have .. delayed in taking possession of the cottage as his own” in light of the “substantial windfall or gift” it represented He found Paul took possession from January 1 The judge referred to “the possibility … that Mr Saric may have told Mr Paul that the latter could have the cottage perhaps in return for care provided by Mr Paul” The court found that “any right to possession of the cottage that may have existed in Mr Saric’s heirs has been definitively extinguished” from January 2009 The property was sold by the executor of Paul’s estate in June for almost $1.5 million a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney and property law expert said that “the rights to land are based loosely on a concept of “The economic value of land is such that the law essentially preserves the ability to buy and sell land … by saying that if you do not exercise rights as owner and somebody else does that other person will actually wind up with something: the title to the land,” Lane said Lane said that “you start with the proposition that the person who’s in adverse possession is actually in possession [and renting it out] as occurred in this case” The owner would have a right to get an order for possession “but the law also says you don’t have forever to do that and the normal position is that people have 12 years from the date on which they were dispossessed or on which they could with reasonable diligence have discovered the fact they had been dispossessed” There is also a “back-stop period” of 30 years that applies even if the 12-year limitation period cannot start running for various reasons such as if the owner were under a mental incapacity or such as if the property was remote or inaccessible The back-stop period extinguishes any claims by the original owner or their heirs after this date a limitation period of 20 years with a 40-year back-stop period applied The shorter 12- and 30-year periods only became law in 1971 Kunc said the result of the 40-year back-stop period was that “any cause of action to recover possession of the cottage by Mr Saric’s legal personal representatives was completely extinguished from 1 January 2009” Macquarie Law School Professor Cathy Sherry said that this was “a fairly typical adverse possession case” It illustrated that people “can lose track of land The court heard Saric may have been survived by his mother and at least one sibling There was “no doubt” his family would have had a claim to the cottage after his death there’s a time limit – and they didn’t assert it in the necessary period of time” “Mr Paul definitely acted as though he was the owner,” she said “Tenants are not occupying adversely to the true owner because they’re there with permission.” Saric’s heirs could have taken steps to remove him by seeking an order for possession The judge said there was “no evidence that Mr Paul went into possession under a lease licence or any other form of consensual relationship with Mr Saric’s estate or heirs” It was a modest fibro cottage in Sydney\\u2019s south that eventually sold for an immodest $1.5 million This is how one man became its owner under so-called \\u201Csquatter\\u2019s rights\\u201D NSW Supreme Court Justice Francois Kunc examined reams of evidence and dating to the 1830s that paints an intriguing portrait of the former owner of the lucrative Gymea Bay property Croatian migrant and ship\\u2019s engineer Joseph Louis Saric notified authorities of Saric\\u2019s death in hospital in July 1968 and organised his funeral \\u201Cwhich took place only two days later\\u201D He said \\u201Cperhaps\\u201D because the nature of the relationship between Saric and Paul was \\u201Cnot apparent from the evidence\\u201D \\u201CWhat has been proven is that Mr Paul arranged Mr Saric\\u2019s funeral and then treated Mr Saric\\u2019s fibro cottage at Gymea Bay as his (Mr Paul\\u2019s) for the next nearly 50 years until his own death in 2018,\\u201D the judge said Kunc said it was \\u201Chighly unlikely that Mr Paul would have .. delayed in taking possession of the cottage as his own\\u201D in light of the \\u201Csubstantial windfall or gift\\u201D it represented The judge referred to \\u201Cthe possibility \\u2026 that Mr Saric may have told Mr Paul that the latter could have the cottage perhaps in return for care provided by Mr Paul\\u201D The court found that \\u201Cany right to possession of the cottage that may have existed in Mr Saric\\u2019s heirs has been definitively extinguished\\u201D from January 2009 The cottage formed part of Paul\\u2019s estate The property was sold by the executor of Paul\\u2019s estate in June for almost $1.5 million said that \\u201Cthe rights to land are based loosely on a concept of \\u201CThe economic value of land is such that the law essentially preserves the ability to buy and sell land \\u2026 by saying that if you do not exercise rights as owner and somebody else does that other person will actually wind up with something: the title to the land,\\u201D Lane said Lane said that \\u201Cyou start with the proposition that the person who\\u2019s in adverse possession is actually in possession [and renting it out] as occurred in this case\\u201D \\u201Cbut the law also says you don\\u2019t have forever to do that or on which they could with reasonable diligence have discovered the fact they had been dispossessed\\u201D There is also a \\u201Cback-stop period\\u201D of that applies even if the 12-year limitation period cannot start running for various reasons Kunc said the result of the 40-year back-stop period was that \\u201Cany cause of action to recover possession of the cottage by Mr Saric\\u2019s legal personal representatives was completely extinguished from 1 January 2009\\u201D Macquarie Law School Professor Cathy Sherry said that this was \\u201Ca fairly typical adverse possession case\\u201D It illustrated that people \\u201Ccan lose track of land There was \\u201Cno doubt\\u201D his family would have had a claim to the cottage after his death there\\u2019s a time limit \\u2013 and they didn\\u2019t assert it in the necessary period of time\\u201D \\u201CMr Paul definitely acted as though he was the owner,\\u201D she said \\u201CTenants are not occupying adversely to the true owner because they\\u2019re there with permission.\\u201D Saric\\u2019s heirs could have taken steps to remove him by seeking an order for possession The judge said there was \\u201Cno evidence that Mr Paul went into possession under a lease licence or any other form of consensual relationship with Mr Saric\\u2019s estate or heirs\\u201D Picture John VeageThe Sutherland Shire Football Association 2024 season has wrapped up with a weekend of grand finals and the Green By Nature Shire Premier League welcomed more teams than ever before this year all eager to compete for the coveted silverware In the women's grand final at Seymour Shaw it was a battle between Gymea1 and the Nth Caringbah Redbacks Gymea did a lot of work but couldn't crack the Redbacks goalie who kept them in the game and scoreless until the final 10 minutes when weight of possession took its toll and Gymea slotting home the goal for their deserved 1-0 victory In the mens it was a Cronulla Seagulls double with their Premier League Men's and Reserves both picking up the silverware The PLM taking a 2-1 win over Kirrawee and the Reserves defeating Nth Caringbah with the same 2-1 score The 2024 Green by Nature Shire Premier League Men's Golden Boot Winner was Bonnet Bays Max White taking out the top spot with 19 goals this season and the Women's Golden Boot was a tie with Bangor's Milly Campbell and Georges River FC's Mikayla Fernley both scoring 12 goals this season to secure a joint win It was a big weekend for the Caringbah Redbacks with the AL 11s and 45Es for securing both Minor Premier and Premier titles for 2024- four Redbacks women's teams finished as Runners Up Picture John VeageGymea United Football Club joined with Beyond Blue to run a run a Mental Health Match fundraising at one of their matches on Sunday Mental Health Match encourages teams to go beyond the match by raising awareness and crucial funds for Beyond Blue's support services - playing it forward One of the Gymea Club members is a medically retired NSW Police Officer Gymea's SPLW team played Kirrawee at the Beyond Blue Mental Health Match on Sunday Picture John Veage She was diagnosed with Complex PTSD due to exposure at work to ongoing trauma and is very passionate about this area and raising awareness and funds to support charities The Gymea club had three Shire Premier League teams playing at Gymea Bay Oval on Sunday June 9 Gymea PLR vs Miranda and the Gymea Premier League Men vs Miranda at 3pm with Gymea's W9B team walking the SPLW team on the field and collecting donations SSFA President Laura Cowell and Cronulla MP Mark Speakman attended a sharing menu of seasonal Italian classics It’s a departure from Arthur − the intimate fine-dining restaurant with a multi-course set menu of modern Australian dishes Fior offers an optional set menu for $85 (featuring an antipasti and a 4-5pm weekday happy hour with $2 Sydney rock oysters and a selection of drinks and snacks for under $12 1 / 6Madalfe corte (cavolo nero pesto and stracciatella) and the pappardelle (pork and fennel sausage ragu) at Fior.Supplied2 / 6Tiramisu 3 / 6Cobia and ocean trout crudo with grapefruit 5 / 6Chicken with radicchio and balsamic vinegar 6 / 6Panna cotta with rhubarb and pepperberry Previous SlideNext SlideGymea local and head chef Tristan Rosier who co-owns the restaurant with partner Bec Fanning says Fior can “hit super competitive price points” by combining their ongoing commitment to using almost exclusively Australian produce “It’s relatively more affordable to put together,” Rosier says so we hope there’ll be something on the menu for everyone − whether you’re taking grandpa out for his 80th birthday or having lunch with the girls.” 1 / 5The interiors at Fior.Supplied2 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 Previous SlideNext SlideIt’s a large contemporary Italian feel − the sun-drenched space completely transformed from its former life as Caruso’s Restaurant and Pizza Bar which closed in March after 25 years of trading Fior’s interiors are designed by Luchretti Krelle created with former Arthur head chef Will Lawson Egg pasta will be made fresh in-house each day with an extruder so large it’s capable of churning out 18 kilograms of pasta per hour “It’s an emerging market … with a new cohort of great chefs and producers combining down south,” says Rosier Rosier and Fanning long planned to open a third venue but found the inner-city market “massively over saturated” “We saw a huge opportunity in the Shire − lots of people have moved to the area and when they want a certain level of restaurant experience they usually travel into the city,” Rossier says “We want to bring that to them and show people what’s possible here.” Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2023 Eduardo Conde (El Primo Sanchez) has developed the drinks menu creating Italian cocktails with an Australian twist There’s also an 80-strong wine list championing Australian winemakers using Italian varietals 756 Kingsway, Gymea, fiorrestaurant.com.au BobbysSurfside restaurant and beach club Bobbys opened in Cronulla last year, with a seafood-forward menu curated by former Totti’s executive chef Pablo Tordesillas. The 115-seater venue features breezy, coastal interiors and an expansive view of South Cronulla beach.6R The Esplanade, Cronulla, bobbyscronulla.com.au Eat LebaneseEat Lebanese has evolved from a COVID-era pop-up restaurant to a stylish, earth-toned diner, serving home-style Lebanese food. The menu is all about customisation, as diners can fill their plates with skewers of grilled meat, house-baked pita bread, falafel and pickles.98 Cronulla Street, Cronulla, eatlebanese.com.au KinThis is no average suburban cafe. The Allouche cousins have created a clever blend of cafe, restaurant and bar, serving blueberry banana pancakes in the morning and pomegranate and coconut margaritas and mezze plates in the evening. 145-149 Woolooware Road, Burraneer, kinburraneer.com.au Flour Coffee & DoughroomThis bakery-cafe hybrid might be tucked away on a suburban street, but it still gets busy on weekends. Their baked goods have all the latest trends covered - from loaded focaccias, to double-baked filled croissants. Settle in with an iced matcha on one of their sunny, outdoor tables. 277 Willarong Road, Caringbah South, instagram.com/weareflour_ ‘Wood-fired Italian joint with oomph’: Why locals are flocking to this Gordon trattoriaHelmed by an ex-Ormeggio at The Spit and Firedoor chef, Bar Infinita has quickly become Gordon’s destination diner. Firepop’s new Enmore Road home set to sizzle with huge open grill and a ‘crazy’ new dishThe first look at the popular pop-up that has finally found a home in Sydney’s inner west. which he said was in desperate need in the area knew he wanted to help other people after he cared for his grandmother who died quite young having lived with dementia Family connection turned to a desire for community reach with the young disability worker launching a service to support more people He is the managing director of JJ Care Services a new disability space with eight bedroom capacity that has launched at Gymea Bay the idea is to get the word out to that there is fresh offering in the suburb for a service he says is lacking have taken over the site of the former Gymea Bay Aged Care facility on Coonong Road It was found to be non-compliant by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Mr Johnston says there has been lots of interest from residents in the site takeover "We have experienced extreme community hype with many neighbours coming knocking on our door and people driving from neighbouring suburbs to see the site and ask what is going on after noticing movement on site for the first time in many months," he said "We have put almost $200,000 into renovating and restoring the site and are finally ready to show the community." JJ Care Services was officially established in 2020 providing 24-hour personalised service to clients The service includes domestic assistance including house cleaning medication administration and tele-welfare which is short term and it's something many providers in the area have stopped offering," Mr Johnston said "We are one of only about two that offer it in the area We have short term accommodation that has a nurse on site." He said a key approach was individual tailoring of needs for people including those on the National Disability Insurance Scheme "There is no one-size-fits-all with us - every person has different needs and preferences that will be met by our team," Mr Johnston said "Having cared for my grandmother through her dementia and palliative care journey at home I have a first-hand understanding of the importance of staying at home and the benefit from having the right support to do so." Mr Johnston said the traditional residential aged care approach was outdated Government-subsidised homecare packages assist over 65's to access a range of in-home services to make staying at home easy," he said also gives people the chance to feel part of a homely environment play video and board games and cuddle bunny rabbits It also offers young people weekend programs and after school care "I've taught all my 60 staff and I'm so proud we have been able to breathe some life into this drab old building and create an environment where people can live safely and comfortably," Mr Johnston said Want more local news? Sign up for your free weekly newsletter. Rachael Nolan receives funding from the Australian Research Council ACT Parks and Conservation and the Hermon Slade Foundation She is a member of the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub which is supported by funds from the NSW Department of Planning Andrea Leigh receives funding from the Australian Research Council She is affiliated with The University of Technology Sydney and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture He is a member of the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub Ross Bradstock receives funding from the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment via the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the ARC Tim Curran receives funding from the New Zealand Ministry for Business the Miss E L Hellaby Indigenous Grasslands Research Trust Tim is the President of the New Zealand Ecological Society Tom Fairman has received funding from Australian Research Council and has previously worked in forest management and research for the Victorian Government Víctor Resco de Dios receives funding from MICINN and Velux Fundation University of Technology Sydney and University of Melbourne provide funding as founding partners of The Conversation AU University of Wollongong, Lincoln University, Western Sydney University, and UNSW Sydney provide funding as members of The Conversation AU Lincoln University provides funding as a member of The Conversation NZ Universitat de Lleida provides funding as a member of The Conversation ES View all partners Green shoots emerging from black tree trunks is an iconic image in the days following bushfires thanks to the remarkable ability of many native plants to survive even the most intense flames But in recent years, the length, frequency and intensity of Australian bushfire seasons have increased, and will worsen further under climate change. Droughts and heatwaves are also projected to increase, and climate change may also affect the incidence of pest insect outbreaks How will our ecosystems cope with this combination of threats? In our recently published paper we looked to answer this exact question — and the news isn’t good We found while many plants are really good at withstanding certain types of fire heatwaves and pest insects may push many fire-adapted plants to the brink in the future The devastating Black Summer fires gave us a taste of this future Ash forests are one of the most iconic in Australia, home to some of the tallest flowering plants on Earth the mature trees are killed and the forest regenerates entirely from the seed that falls from the dead canopy do not produce seed reliably until they’re 15 years old This means if fire occurs again during this period This would have serious consequences for the carbon stored in these trees and the habitat these forests provide for animals Southeast Australia has experienced multiple fires since 2003 which means there’s a large area of regrowing ash forests across the landscape The Black Summer bushfires burned parts of these young forests, and nearly 10,000 football fields of ash forest was at risk of collapse. Thankfully, approximately half of this area was recovered through an artificial seeding program Longer fire seasons means there’s a greater chance species will burn at a time of year that’s outside the historical norm This can have devastating consequences for plant populations For example, out-of-season fires, such as in winter, can delay maturation of the Woronora beard-heath compared to summer fires because of their seasonal requirements for releasing and germinating seeds This means the species needs longer fire-free intervals when fires occur out of season The iconic gymea lily, a post-fire flowering species, is another plant under similar threat. New research showed when fires occur outside summer the gymea lily didn’t flower as much and changed its seed chemistry While this resprouting species might persist in the short term consistent out-of-season fires could have long-term impacts by reducing its reproduction and In the lead up to the Black Summer fires, eastern Australia experienced the hottest and driest year on record The drought and associated heatwaves triggered widespread canopy die-off Extremes of drought and heat can directly kill plants. And this increase in dead vegetation may increase the intensity of fires Another problem is that by coping with drought and heat stress, plants may deplete their stored energy reserves, which are vital for resprouting new leaves following fire. Depletion of energy reserves may result in a phenomenon called “resprouting exhaustion syndrome” where fire-adapted plants no longer have the reserves to regenerate new leaves after fire fire can deliver the final blow to resprouting plants already suffering from drought and heat stress Drought and heatwaves could also be a big problem for seeds Many species rely on fire-triggered seed germination to survive following fire But drought and heat stress may reduce the number of seeds that get released because they limit flowering and seed development in the lead up to bushfires or trigger plants to release seeds prematurely For example, in Australian fire-prone ecosystems, temperatures between 40°C and 100°C are required to break the dormancy of seeds stored in soil and trigger germination. But during heatwaves, soil temperatures can be high enough to break these temperature thresholds This means seeds could be released before the fire and they won’t be available to germinate after the fire hits Heatwaves can also reduce the quality of seeds by deforming their DNA This could reduce the success of seed germination after fire What about insects? The growth of new foliage following fire or drought is tasty to insects they may remove all the leaves of recovering plants This additional stress may push plants over their limit This phenomenon has more typically been obverved in eucalypts following drought where repeated defoliation (leaf loss) by pest insects triggered dieback in recovering trees We expect many vegetation communities will remain resilient in the short-term, including most eucalpyt species we expect to see some changes in the types of species present in certain areas and changes to the structure of vegetation (such as the size of trees) many fire-prone ecosystems will be pushed beyond their historical limits Our new research is only the beginning — how plants will respond is still highly uncertain and more research is needed to untangle the interacting effects of fire We need to rapidly reduce carbon emissions before testing the limits of our ecosystems to recover from fire For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Former NRL star Josh Dugan has earned a very handy payday with the sale of his home in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire The former Australia and NSW star offloaded his Gymea Bay house earlier this month for well above the sought-after southern suburb’s median price of $1.874m home that came complete with a rear studio or granny flat fetched $2.1 million for Dugan with strong interest in the beautifully renovated home driving the price up beyond its $1.8m to $2m guide Josh Dugan has sold his impressive Gymea Bay home The ex-NRL star enjoyed a profit of around $1m on the home in just six years The sale was first reported by Phil Rothfield in his Sunday Telegraph gossip column What’s the Buzz who retired from professional football at the end of last season after 215 games and 14 seasons in the NRL for the Canberra Raiders St George Illawarra and the Cronulla Sharks paid $1.220 million for the property in 2016 The at-times controversial 31-year-old made minimal improvements to the home meaning Dugan enjoyed a profit on the home in the vicinity of $1 million in just six years A figure equal to the annual salary of the highest paid NRL players MORE: Is this Australia’s best sporting venue? ‘At peace’: Inside millionaire influence Tammy Hembrow’s stunning river home Josh Dugan during his playing days in the NRL Selling agent Kieran Bresnahan of McGrath — Brighton Le Sands said buying the home had paid off well for Dugan when the market had dipped slightly,” Mr Bresnahan said it was a nice result and the strength of the market helped “The home was very well inspected and initially we were quoting between $1.8 and $2m but we got a strong offer from a buyer out of the area from the eastern suburbs who was looking for more for his money buyers coming down here from the eastern suburbs looking for better value for their money.” Mr Bresnahan also sold another Gymea Bay home in Joffre St earlier this month for $2.075m He said the suburb was proving very attractive for prospective homebuyers “Gymea Bay is one of the most popular areas in the Shire outside of Cronulla,” he said it has its own little village along with plenty of other amenities and recreation options After a successful career that included 12 matches for Australia and 12 State of Origin appearances for NSW Dugan’s NRL career looks to be over after his contract with the Sharks finished up last year He was linked to a move to country football with Mittagong in Group 6 but that hasn’t eventuated Josh Dugan in action for Australia in London in 2016 MORE: Sydney’s 20 most tenant-friendly suburbs Famous designer sells for huge price in ‘Glamarama’ Kim Kardashian reveals her $32m post-divorce mansion third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. can still drop a line from Gymea Bay Baths Gymea Bay Baths may be reopened for swimming by Christmas Sutherland Shire Council closed the tidal baths for safety reasons after severe damage was caused by a major storm on February 13 this year A council spokeswoman said about 10 tonne of flood debris and 180 metres of netting was removed from the baths and around the site after the storm Picture by Murray Trembath"A set of stairs adjacent to the club rooms was also damaged requiring demolition and removal," she said a new net has been designed and fabricated and is ready for installation and a new set of stairs has been fabricated and installed divers also noted a section of the baths had failed and was sagging and there was evidence of deterioration of some of the timber piles." Picture by Murray Trembath The spokeswoman said the council commissioned a marine engineer's report to determine the requirements to safely re-open the baths and was finalising the engagement of a contractor to undertake the remaining works "This will include replacement of damaged structural elements of the baths and installation of new piles and decking in the section of walkway being replaced as well as maintenance of piles and decking in other areas around the baths," she said "We anticipate safety barriers restricting swimming access may be able to be removed by Christmas pending the securing of the required materials and a contractor to complete the remaining works." Water quality at Gymea Bay Baths downgraded to Very Poor organised by Gymea Community Aid and Information Service Paula Douglas contributed this article to the Leader The rain formed meandering rivulets down the windscreen as I watched an unusually large number of elderly ladies scurrying out of their cars in raincoats with umbrellas held high The average person watching might have seen these women and wondered why there were so many out on such an awful day they would have seen that under the raincoats all the ladies wore sports shoes and various coloured tights I knew about the minor miracle that had been growing in this ordinary part of the Sutherland Shire From the beginning of COVID-19 in early 2020 and the ensuing lockdowns a couple of extraordinary women were leading a revolution in the provision of aged care Jenny and Kalpna from the Gymea Community Aid and Information Service (GCAIS) had secured funding for an Over 65s Social and Active Program The aim was to measure changes in physical and mental well-being in older people who participated in regular exercise and social exchange The so-called Group 1 were the guinea pigs We were individually assessed by Brent Collier a qualified exercise physiologist at Allied Health Gymea before we started I struggled up the many stairs with my walking stick and the handrail Our first class was at the Gymea Bay Fitness Gym under the supervision of Brent and we all got over the fear of the unfamiliar equipment We were soon really enjoying the sessions when the first lockdown put everything on hold Each of us kept up exercising within the limits of government-imposed rules starting with two laps using my walking stick and building up to ten laps without it most of us tentatively went back to the program too cautious about exposure to this new pandemic that seemed such a threat to people over 65 We were introduced to a variety of other classes to augment the gym: Tai Chi The Gymea Community Hall suddenly became transformed into a Health Club The local cafes were literally being kept afloat by the before and after class coffee groups We were stimulating the local economy as well as our own ageing bodies that suddenly felt so much more alive we were each individually reassessed by Brent who gleefully reported that each participant had improved significantly in each parameter measured The astounding results helped secure further funding and now Jenny and Kalpna are managing Group 5 as well as mental well-being from the new friendships Jenny organised ongoing exercise programs at minimal costs to participants on a pay-as-you-go basis Their latest coup has been securing rental of the Sky Gym at Gymea during the middle of the day when it's usually unused And that's where all the ladies were scurrying to from the car park in the rain 23 men and women fronted up for the first session We all finished exhausted but happy and took off for social gatherings in various subgroups Nina's Chocolates management has apologised to customers for any inconvenience caused by the closure of its Cronulla and Engadine stores The business will consolidate operations at its original store at Gymea Nina's advised in a Facebook post on Tuesday the Engadine store would close on May 25 Nina's chief executive Michael Haddad said in a statement "We've recently decided to close our Engadine store which was initially opened as a short-term pop-up during the 2020 COVID period The store closure follows that of our Cronulla store in April "We've decided to consolidate our retail business back into our integrated Gymea factory and storefront at 27 Gymea Bay Road where customers can shop our full range and experience the live action of our handmade chocolates being produced on-site "It's been great bringing Nina's Chocolates out to many new customers across the shire through our Engadine and Cronulla stores "And we look forward to seeing many of you back at our Gymea store where we've been for most of our nearly 30-year history." Mr Haddad said the Nina's team was "passionate about making beautiful handmade chocolates using only the finest ingredients to deliver an amazing experience to all our customers" "In addition to consolidating our retail business we're concurrently upgrading our website to enhance the customer experience for online shopping which sees our locally made product reach many customers across Australia "We do regret any inconvenience our retail consolidation causes customers of both stores We're grateful for your support and understanding and we look forward to serving you in Gymea for many years to come." Nina's Chocolates at Engadine is closing - just a few weeks after the Cronulla store shut its doors for the last time Nina's management said the Engadine store would close on May 25 "We have made the hard decision to close our gem of a store in Engadine," the post said "This choice was made to prioritise the jobs of our local team and to allow us to continue delighting all of our customers with the service Nina's is famous for "Thank you to all who have visited our Engadine for your support and we look forward to seeing you at Gymea for many years to come" Arthur and Jane are a happy Surry Hills couple: him a fine set-menu-only interpretation of Australian cuisine; her a “more playful wine bar version of that,” Tristan Rosier tells Broadsheet Now they’re heading to the southern ‘burbs opening 120-seat Italian joint Fior in Gymea “We’ve been looking for a space [in the Shire] for over 12 months We signed a lease in December and have been working on the fit-out since January,” Rosier says The sprawling restaurant occupies a quirky red-brick corner building all-weather balcony; large pasta-focused open kitchen; 12-seat bar; and a dining room full of loose furniture “so we can create any [table] combination” The bar is split in two: six seats overlooking a bench dedicated to cocktails and six overlooking a salumi-stocked larder and oysters shucked to order The kitchen – where Arthur's Will Lawson will be head chef – is focused on cuisine that’s “Italian-esque or Italian-through-the-lens-of-an-Australian-guy,” Rosier says Using a 95:5 split of Australian to Italian produce – only using things “we can get better from Italy like Parmigiano Reggiano” – various shapes will roll out of a whopping pasta extruder (which can make 18 kilos an hour) on the daily joining a snacky selection of small plates A ”top-of-the-range” Italian gelato machine will service ever-changing flavours of gelato and sorbet “At the forefront is the F word: fun,” Rosier says “Just let your hair down – [dining] doesn’t have to be serious If you want a serious night out where you have to think heaps about the food It’s pertinent to touch on this team’s happy-hour plans, with Jane’s $12 Martini and $2 oyster deal one of our city’s best. Good news, Gymea, a daily aperitivo hour is incoming. And with award-winning bartender Eduardo Conde (El Primo Sanchez) steering both it and the cocktail list it’s sure to make for some very happy drinking which was formerly much-loved neighbourhood trattoria Caruso’s marks the largest undertaking for the couple But we’ve got the ability to do more people “We do three or four turns at Jane in a night Fior is slated to open at 752-756 Kingsway Where Chefs Eat: Peter Gilmore Really Knows Crows Nest Ex-Tradies Grill Hard-to-Find Mexican Street Snacks First Look: Berta’s Deli Knows “Everyone Loves a Sandwich” A major new Aboriginal art exhibition featuring 50 new and commissioned works from across the vast APY Lands of South Australia will open at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery in Sydney’s south this weekend Nganampa Kililpil: Our Stars brings together artists from seven art centres: Tjala Kaltjiti and Iwantja – each known for their strong use of colour and dynamic movement The show will feature two 3×5 metre collaborative paintings by artists from each of the art centres It is the first time artists from across the APY Lands have worked together on a single painting “Focuses on the Seven Sisters Dreaming the significant sites and landmarks that were created or visited by the sisters as they travelled through the landscape,” explains curator was created by 38 weavers and malpas (helpers) and reflects the vast and abundant country with the trees being the spirit of life who are surrounded by animals and bush tucker.” includes a collaborative painting and installation of Kulata (spears) and Kulata Miru (spear throwers) “These powerful and poignant works reflect on the senior men who have passed away and acknowledge their contribution to art and culture in the APY Lands,” says Kibbler “Drawing on traditional skills of spear making and wood carving the Kulata Miru feature the names of the passed away senior men carved into the decorated surfaces.” The Aboriginal Art Directory promotes Australian Indigenous art nationally and internationally; as well as providing consumer information about ethics and authenticity when buying Aboriginal art Sign-up to get the latest news and update information Most Sydneysiders could be forgiven for not being able to pinpoint Kirrawee on a map The suburb straddles the Princes Highway between Gymea and Sutherland about 25 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD It doesn’t have the razzle-dazzle of beachy Cronulla the thriving village atmosphere of Gymea or the shopping drawcards of Westfield Miranda What it does have, according to agent David Milton, managing director of residential projects at CBRE is a bright future and a big potential for price growth “Because there haven’t been the shopping options and other conveniences Kirrawee is undervalued compared with surrounding areas,” Milton says A sprawling new development at the site of old Kirrawee Brick Pit is on track to change all that within the space of a few years. Milton goes so far as to describe South Village, from developer Deicorp, as a suburb- changer in the same way that East Village has revolutionised Zetland in Sydney’s inner east incorporating a new community shopping centre with 30 specialty shops restaurants and other fantastic amenities below,” he says The second stage of sales is due next month “There’s easy rail access to the city and the airport There’s a big industrial and commercial area nearby South Village will include eight residential buildings, designed by Turner architects community spaces and 14,000 square metres of retail 1400 new homes planned for popular inner west suburb Erskineville in Park Sydney project New boutique apartments Loftus Lane to unlock laneways in Circular Quay Ken Done family business Cadmium Property to launch boutique apartments in sought-after Surry Hills says the landscape around the disused brick pit will be transformed into the new park with other sections “lifted” to become residents’ gardens on the rooftop above the retail levels which once produced bricks and earthenware pipes will be restored for public exhibition or incorporated into the public domain including the base of a pipe kiln and earthenware kiln furniture Download the Domain app to search for homes for sale in and around Kirrawee The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate