A physiotherapist has been charged after his dogs allegedly fatally mauled a Jack Russell and injured her owner - forcing the pair to take shelter from the savage animals in a muddy creek while he fled the scene where they spent around half an hour trying to fight off the vicious dogs until they were rescued by police armed with pepper spray Indi suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a veterinary clinic but sadly died the following day while undergoing emergency surgery Ms Booth was also hospitalised for injuries to her face Following a seven-month investigation by George River Council was arrested in February and charged with eight offences Helou allegedly told police he was 'pet-sitting' the two Irish wolfhounds according to court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia police will allege he was the owner of the two dogs and was walking them off-leash when they encountered Ms Booth and Indi Police will allege the unrestrained dogs harassed chased then attacked Indi before turning on Ms Booth as she intervened in a desperate attempt to save her pet's life Helou allegedly did not have dog leads with him at the time and then ran from the scene while Ms Booth and Indi were trapped in the creek allegedly being attacked by his dogs 'The defendant was reckless in that his two dogs are large dogs that were not restrained in a public place and with no apparent means of restraint available,' police allege in the court documents the defendant failed to take proper control of his two dogs and then left the area leaving his dogs behind whilst they were acting aggressively towards Indigo and her owner.'  Shortly after Ms Booth and Indi were rescued by police the two dogs were seized by by council workers at Helou's Peakhurst Heights home and later put down the incident captured the hearts of Australians - who rallied to raise funds for Indi's surgery and help  support Ms Booth who required surgery on her hands and forearm When approached by Daily Mail Australia in July 2023 Helou - who is the lead physiologist at his family-owned clinic in Lugarno - refused to comment about what happened it has been operating in south Sydney for more than 30 years and is a 'family-owned business you can trust' 'The team at the clinic are highly motivated in helping the community in improving their mobility Georges River Council launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in July last year the council released a statement announcing an individual had been charged with offences under the Companion Animals Act 1998 Georges River Council commenced proceedings in the Local Court,' the statement reads 'As this matter is now before the Local Court council is not in a position to make further comment.' 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A deceased estate on the Georges River in Sydney’s south has been relisted for sale despite community opposition for the site to be subdivided for developers to build on Held by the same family since 1908, 80 Boronia Parade Lugarno sprawls over 25,400 sqm and has been left untouched Historic records indicate the cottage was purchased from the City Bank of Sydney around 80 years ago with the property since being used for oyster farming and selling fruits and vegetables to the local community The site was listed for sale in May last year however a temporary heritage order was put in place – cancelling a proposal to subdivide the land into a residential estate Situated 25 minutes south of the Sydney CBD the waterfront property is nicknamed ‘Glenlee’ and includes a private jetty and a boatshed The property is being listed for expressions of interest sale via One Commercial agents Joshua Charles and Simon Kent It has been held by the same family since 1908 Mr Charles said the property would provide a great opportunity for a private waterfront family estate or for an investor to create a development project “Finding a property like this anywhere in metropolitan Sydney anymore is simply impossible The site includes a private jetty with a boatshed MORE: Roxy Jacenko’s moody $10m office for sale How to own your own pub for just $5k New twist in fraudster Melissa Caddick’s home sell off “Imagine the incredible family home or estate that could be established on a block of this size “We expect interest from retirement living operators church groups and schools looking to use it as a potential retreat individuals wanting a rural lifestyle in the city and of course developers.” It has the potential to be transformed into a dream waterfront estate or an investment opportunity the estate was subdivided and Boronia Parade was constructed A large portion of the land has since been cleared containing three access points on Boronia Parade and Ballanda Ave Locals have called for the council and state government to acquire the Lugarno property and take it out of private hands with over 600 people joining a public Facebook group ‘Save Glenlee Lugarno’ median house prices in Lugarno have dropped by nine per cent – with the average home costing $1.56m to buy MORE: Qantas boss to sell controversial $20m mansion Own your own pub for just $5000 From houso to first home at just 21 for NRL young gun 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. Oatley West businesses hit by break-insOfficers attached to St George Police Area Command are investigating after reports of several break and enters at businesses along Mulga Road About ten businesses were broken into around 4am this morning Mark Coure said he was shocked and disappointed by the break-ins local businesses run by individuals who have lived and worked in our community for a number of years," Mr Coure said "I have spoken with the St George Police Area Command to seek an update on the matter and ensure that all available resources have been allocated to make sure that those responsible are brought to justice swiftly." "At a time when small businesses are doing it tough "This is a low-act by those responsible and I urge them to find their conscience and turn themselves in "Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and many of them give back to the community in so many ways "As a community it is important we come together to support these affected businesses by shopping local and staying vigilant," Mr Coure said Covering Georges River Council, Bayside Council and general news. For news tips contact me at jgainsford@theleader.com.au Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. but one night of rough sleeping won't worry the Lugarno resident For more than 20 years, Mrs Akkanen has supported Free the Bears Fund, which raises awareness and funds for the plight of bile farm bears in south-east Asia Bile is collected from bears to make products many bears will spending years cramped in small cages to collect bile via abdominal catheters from their gall bladders was the NSW Coordinator of the Australian charity She retired at the end of 2024 but continues to take action and support the rescue of bears Free the Bears Fund was launched 30 years ago by Perth resident Mary Hutton The charity also operates in the UK and initially included freeing the Indian Street dancing bears it has focused on rescuing bears from bile farms and the wildlife trade The fund operates bear rescue sanctuaries in Laos Mrs Akkanen visited Laos to see firsthand how volunteers work to save the bears by providing veterinary care contact with other bears and access to an enclosed forest "There was an influx of cubs born last year - 17 were rescued," Mrs Akkanen said and there was a lot of pressure on the sanctuaries to cope." Mrs Akkanen will participate in a national event encouraging members to spend an entire night in a cage much like the enclosed bears placed in small Joining others in their caged missions, she will again get comfortable inside a cage built by her family with my cats to keep me company and husband as moral support," she said "I link up with others on Zoom and we talk through the night but it's nothing compared to what bears go through." St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering education, health and general community news. Email: ekolimar@theleader.com.au We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy made its last crossing of the Georges River a small number of people watched the last car driving off at Illawong The Leader reported "the Jolly Roger was flying cheekily from the masthead" of the ferry The Lions Club of Lugarno and Lugarno Sports Club planned a paying-off function period costumes and an evening barbecue and dance Sutherland Shire Council refused to assist The ferry was towed to Berowra to replace an older The service between Lugarno and Illawong began in 1843 and four ferries Financing of the service was shared by the Department of Main Roads and Sutherland and Hurstville councils The demise of the ferry service followed the opening a year earlier of the Alfords Point Bridge Premier Sir Robert Askin opened the bridge on September 7 Sir Robert said the bridge was planned with an eye to the future there should be more than 17,000 vehicles using the bridge each day and 10 years later the daily volume could be as high as 80,000 Picture suppliedAn aspiring chef from Lugarno is well on his way to taking the culinary scene by storm A year ago, Zufi Abdulkarim made it to the top 20 of The Great Australian Bake-Off on Foxtel and was a finalist in the Jamie Oliver Food Hero Awards His passion for creating dessert dishes started during the COVID-19 lockdowns The Year 11 student recently launched a business "I got sick of travelling to a pastry shop 'Why not make them at home?' There is a demand for them in my area," he said "I try to harvest the vanilla myself - no preservatives 'Chef Zufi' teaches children some cooking skills Picture suppliedZufi also blogs about his food creations documents his talents and shares his recipes with his followers on his Instagram page he volunteers at PCYC and teaches children basic cooking skills "I have a passion for cooking with the younger generation," he said "It's a joy teaching them how to prepare healthy meals and truly appreciate the art of planet-friendly food." Zufi has previously won an award from the Lugarno Progress Association for advocating for installing defibrillators in the Lugarno shopping village Nicholas Christo and Howard Courtney want Georges River Council build a public amenities block at the shopping centre Picture by Chris LaneThe shopkeepers and business-owners of Chivers Hill shopping centre at Lugarno say they have waited long enough For more than ten years they have been requesting Georges River Council build a public toilet block next to the shopping centre's car park They are fed-up with seeing parents letting their children go to the toilet in the street outside the shops and in the carpark "I've seen kids weeing on garbage bins and trees," local architect Nicholas Christo said "I've seen parents let their kids go to the toilet on the street People are then walking through it and into the shops Jordon Taylor of Coffee Lounge Lugarno said "We get people who aren't customers coming in and asking if we have a toilet We reserve it for our customers but it is hard to say no." Lugarno Pharmacy owner Warren Del-Grande has been at the shopping centre for 53 years and said the need for a public toilet has been talked about for years "Over the years it has created problems so that some shopkeepers allow the use of their own toilets in some cases," Mr Del-Grande said "Some of my customers are elderly and have incontinence I can't tell them to get in their car and drive to the toilets in the park It is embarrassing and inconvenient so in some cases I reluctantly allow them to use my toilet "The need for a public toilet block at Chivers Hill has been over-talked for at least 10 years and nothing gets done about it The council has given us no specific reason why." They also need a public toilet as do the delivery people and the postman The nearest public toilet is Evatt Park or Gannons Park." The shopkeepers and business-owners met with the Georges River Mayor and General Manager two months ago to discuss the need for a public toilet in the shopping centre "They told us it would cost $350,000," Mr Christo said "I've designed a public amenities block free-of-charge and believe it can be built for $100,000." The council adopted it's 2024/2025 budget and Capital works program in June which is focused on renewal of existing assets "The investigation of a feasibility of a public amenity block at Chivers Hill is being undertaken and a future report with findings will be presented to Council," a council spokesperson said Picture suppliedLugarno Pharmacist Advice is more than just a place to fill prescriptions "It's a hub for expert healthcare services designed to support the wellbeing of the entire community," Warren said Established by Tom Hoskin in the late 1950s the business has been owned by Warren since 1971 Now the Lugarno location for Pharmacist Advice Warren and the team have been trusted by generations of the same local families to care for their health needs the heart of the pharmacy remains the same but its services have expanded significantly Warren said healthcare needs are constantly evolving and Lugarno Pharmacist Advice continues to adapt to ensure that customers receive the best possible care "By combining expert pharmacist advice with a strong network of Allied Health professionals the pharmacy plays a vital role in coordinating healthcare services and improving patient access to essential treatments," Warren said The pharmacy remains committed to delivering personal or a consultation at the monthly Allied Health clinic One fairly recent triumph Warren and the team at Lugarno Pharmacist Advice are rightly proud of was winning API's Pharmacist Advice Pharmacy of the Year Another was recognition from The University of Sydney and The University of NSW for the pharmacy's involvement in student learning specifically through the placement and intern program Warren has also been elevated to a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia His goal for the business is to continue growing as a healthcare destination and a true facilitator of health in our community A new book 'Glenlee' by Glenyss Barnham documents its unique legacy for future generations The book's release comes as the future of the unique property hangs in the balance after its sale "The book explores the life of the Bidjigal people the early European ownership of the land grant made by Governor Sir William Thomas Denison in 1856 and the story of the Geddes and Matthei families who were the only ones to settle the site in its more than 160-year history," Glenyss said "The National Trust listed the property for its Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Early Settler history Georges River Council went further and included not only the homestead and Aboriginal heritage but also its setting established over 100 years ago were still productive and a window into the self-sufficiency so essential to the early pioneers Forest Road was little more than a bullock track so the river was their lifeline to the outside world Everything they needed had to come across the river from Como so growing their own produce was crucial," Glenyss said "The remnant Blackbutt forest at the rear has stood largely untouched since Europeans first set foot on the land and is a vital part of the wildlife corridor stretching from Oatley through Lugarno to Georges River National Park "Where else in suburbia can you put your fingers into the grinding grooves where the Bidjigal people sharpened their spears and experience the rock pot we've been told was used by their women And where else are there remnants of the pioneering life of the early settlers still largely intact "I hope the book captures something of the timelessness of the place and its ecological and environmental importance to the area." Georges River Councillors Peter Mahoney and Matt Allison hope to meet with the candidates or the Banks electorate in the Federal election to discuss their interest in preserving Glenlee and present them with a copy of the book The book launch for 'Glenlee' will be held on May 3 from 2pm - 4 pm at Lugarno Uniting Church 909-911 Forest Road Copies can be pre-ordered by sending an email to: glenleeactiongroup@gmail.com and paying $25 into the Friends of Glenlee account Pre-ordered books can be picked up at the launch or delivery arranged around the Lugarno area including Captain Chris Bailey and cadets from Riverwood Hornets Australian Cadets Corp with Stephen Clarke from the Riverwood Plaza shopping centre management Picture suppliedLugarno Lions ran a successful food drive at Riverwood Plaza recently to assist people in need within the community The club collected non-perishable food items in support of The South West Evangelical Church (SWEC) at Kingsgrove which will be distributed each week to the families at their parish The drive was also supported by the Riverwood Hornets Picture suppliedLions Club of Lugarno might be light on membership but it's extending its reach into St George by showing continuing support the club donated $1000 to St George Community Transport Money will go towards replacement batteries for the defibrillators on buses and at the Mortdale office St George Community Transport buses provide a vital service and vulnerable members of the community get to necessary appointments Having defibrillators on board ensures the organisation is prepared in case of a medical emergency giving passengers and staff greater peace of mind "This donation from the Lions Club of Lugarno means we can continue to keep our defibrillators in top condition and ready to use in an emergency," Chief Executive of St George Community Transport Chief Executive Natasha Stokes said "This kind of community support makes a real difference in keeping people safe while they travel with us." Lugarno Lions Director Gary Walker says the club aims to keep giving back to the community and the focus is raising money and donating that to various volunteer organisations and charities," he said "St George Community Transport approached us about supplying the batteries and we considered that a pretty good request and we thought it was a worthwhile cause." Mr Walker welcomes new members to Lugarno Lions "We need to lift our profile in the community," he said we raised about $100,000 and returned that to the community But we struggle with membership and want to encourage people to help us." Lugarno Lions also recently supported Marine Rescue NSW Botany Port Hacking with a $1000 donation that will fund mannequins for their resuscitation training Lions Club of Lugarno hosts a breakfast club at Hannans Road Public School Picture suppliedBreakfast ClubLugarno Lions launched a breakfast club at Hannans Road Public School Club members who initiated the project bring breakfast for students on a Wednesday The idea is to ensure students start their day with a nutritious meal The breakfast club offers a variety of options Members also provide food items for parents to take home Woolworths Riverwood and non-Lion volunteers Dorrette Williams and Julia Farrow support the initiative Pictured is St George Hospital General Manager Angela Karooz District Australian Lions Foundation chairperson Steve Holley Picture suppliedThe Lugarno Lions Club celebrated its anniversary in May with a dinner at Club Menai Lugarno Lions Club was formed in 1974 and is part of the worldwide Lions Club International (LCI) LCI has clubs in 200 hundred countries and has more than 1.4 million members Through its fundraising Lugarno Lions has donated more than $3 million to the community since it was formed Members meet on the second and fourth Thursdays at Club Rivers Lugarno.The Heritage Council of NSW has resolved not to recommend the listing of the historic Lugarno waterfront property Glenlee on the State Heritage Register (SHR) to the Minister for Heritage The waterfront property includes boatsheds and a private jetty.The State Heritage Register Committee decided in December not to recommend the listing as insufficient information was available to determine the State heritage significance Residents who made submissions were notified by Heritage NSW of the decision on February 13 "To recommend the property for the State Heritage Register heritage assessments on the property must be done," a Heritage NSW spokesperson said access to the property has not been granted for these assessments to proceed "Until access is granted and the heritage assessments are completed the property can't be recommended for State Heritage Register listing." Glenlee benefits from statutory heritage protection as a local heritage item listed on the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 Aboriginal sites and objects at Glenlee also have statutory protection under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 The Friends of Glenlee action group secretary Linda Simon said," The Friends of Glenlee continue to be disappointed in the State Government and their failure to carry through on commitments made before they were elected "There is no doubt Glenlee is deserving of State Heritage Listing We call on Minister for Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe to ensure that there can be a review of Aboriginal Culture and Heritage on the site so that Heritage Listing can be enacted "She promised the Interim Heritage Order would be put back on and that Glenlee would be preserved into the future "We are in the process of working with the NSW Greens to try and make further contact with Aboriginal groups who would be interested in preserving the history of the site "With local council elections coming up we will be putting pressure on any candidate to give an upfront strong and enactable commitment to the future of Glenlee." the then Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe committed to giving a Ministerial Direction to allow access to the property of Glenlee to complete the further studies for the State Heritage listing assessment process Labor also committed to placing a new Interim Heritage Order over the property the council wrote to Minister Sharpe seeking the granting of a new Interim Heritage Order and the provision of funds towards the acquisition of the property The Minister said she was legally unable to grant a new heritage order The State Government said that funding was not available for its purchase Mark Coure slammed the decision not to recommend Glenlee for the State Heritage Register no action has been taken by the Minns Labor Government to protect this invaluable piece of local history," Mr Coure said the Minns Labor Government has once again failed my community This is another major blow to our local campaign to save Glenlee," he said The 25,400sqm waterfront property at 80 Boronia Parade Lugarno was re-listed for sale in mid-2023 and advertised as a clean slate with interest expected from retirement living operators church groups or schools looking to use it as a retreat The property is currently zoned R2 Low Density Residential and a number of uses compatible to protection and conservation of Glenlee are permissible Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The local government watchdog withdrew an investigation into a councillor's alleged misconduct because her council had gone into administration only for her to take up a seat at the newly merged organisation the following year Georges River Liberal councillor Rita Kastanias has lost a long battle with the council to prevent it from releasing a confidential commissioned by her former Hurstville Council over claims regarding her Lugarno cafe business found she engaged in misconduct and breached conflict of interest provisions relating to a nearby business a "campaign of complaints and agitation" was carried out against @ The Corner cafe by a friend of Cr Kastanias Steven Rafeletos – a refrigeration repairman who also had a commercial relationship with the councillor The report said Cr Kastanias did not absent herself from discussions about planning issues with the Peakhurst diner despite owning a cafe in the next suburb Cr Kastanias herself also "actively intervened" in the matter arranging and attending a private meeting with the cafe's solicitor – then voting against the cafe's interests in a subsequent meeting "and many thereafter" @ The Corner cafe in Peakhurst.Credit: Rhett Wyman Some of the discussions relating to @ The Corner Cafe to come before council included whether to remove a ventilation stack from the building The report found the effect of that decision "would be to force the closure of the cafe as there was no alternative commercially viable ventilation solution at that time" Cr Kastanias told the investigator the @ The Corner Cafe and her operation "It is not in direct competition with my business It is remote and insignificant," she said "I deny the allegation that I had any conflict of interest." Cr Kastanias repeated the denial when speaking to the Herald on Monday and said codes of conduct complaints were being used as a political weapon to suppress councillors from doing their civic duties The whole point of this exercise was that council did not act promptly on an unauthorised works," she said Cr Kastanias also said she had helped the owners of another nearby cafe to keep operating after the council tried to shut that business down I never got into council for my own gain .. I'm here for the community," she said Cr Kastanias also told investigators that Mr Rafeletos was a friend but the nature of that friendship "is not close." On Monday she described him as an "acquaintance" The Lugarno Gourmet Deli Cafe.Credit: Rhett Wyman Cr Kastanias said she would be appealing the decision to release the report saying it was false and she had a wealth of evidence to prove the allegations were untrue The report recommended she undertake training The council resolved to receive and note the findings but did not adopt the recommendations of the external investigator which resulted in the matter being referred to the Office of Local Government on April 11 It also noted that some people held the perception that some of the investigator's conclusions were not supported by the evidence Hurstville Council went into administration the following month But information from a source connected with the saga showed the Office of Local Government determined that because Cr Kastanias was no longer a councillor at Hurstville there was no point in pursuing the matter Cr Kastanias was re-elected in September 2017 A spokesperson from the Office of Local Government said: "Having examined the matter OLG determined formal intervention was not warranted and no further action was taken following the councillor ceasing to hold office." "OLG has not received any complaints against the councillor following her election to Georges River Council," the spokesperson said Cr Kastanias argued against the council's decision to release the report under freedom-of-information laws in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal She also said the report's release could damage her chances of re-election the council said a political decision by the previous administration not to impose a sanction should have no bearing on whether the allegations were regarded as substantiated Georges River Council also said if the report's contents affected her re-election prospects then that was an aspect in favour of disclosure "It submits that the central tenet of responsible government is that elected representatives are responsible to the public and only remain in government so far as they enjoy the confidence of the public," NCAT senior member Stephen Montgomery said of the council's position in his decision to release the document The local government watchdog withdrew an investigation into a councillor's alleged misconduct because her council had gone into administration a \\\"campaign of complaints and agitation\\\" was carried out against @ The Corner cafe by a friend of Cr Kastanias Steven Rafeletos \\u2013 a refrigeration repairman who also had a commercial relationship with the councillor Cr Kastanias herself also \\\"actively intervened\\\" in the matter arranging and attending a private meeting with the cafe's solicitor \\u2013 then voting against the cafe's interests in a subsequent meeting \\\"and many thereafter\\\" The report found the effect of that decision \\\"would be to force the closure of the cafe as there was no alternative commercially viable ventilation solution at that time\\\" \\\"It is not in direct competition with my business It is remote and insignificant,\\\" she said \\\"I deny the allegation that I had any conflict of interest.\\\" The whole point of this exercise was that council did not act promptly on an unauthorised works,\\\" she said but the nature of that friendship \\\"is not close.\\\" On Monday she described him as an \\\"acquaintance\\\" It also noted that some people held the perception that some of the investigator's conclusions were not supported by the evidence A spokesperson from the Office of Local Government said: \\\"Having examined the matter OLG determined formal intervention was not warranted and no further action was taken following the councillor ceasing to hold office.\\\" \\\"OLG has not received any complaints against the councillor following her election to Georges River Council,\\\" the spokesperson said Cr Kastanias argued against the council's decision to release the report under freedom-of-information laws in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal She also said the report's release could damage her chances of re-election Georges River Council also said if the report's contents affected her re-election prospects \\\"It submits that the central tenet of responsible government is that elected representatives are responsible to the public and only remain in government so far as they enjoy the confidence of the public,\\\" NCAT senior member Stephen Montgomery said of the council's position in his decision to release the document This leafy riverside retreat may look like it’s tucked away in a rainforest but it’s only 40 minutes from the Sydney CBD Perched on the banks of the Georges River in Lugarno in Sydney’s south the recently renovated three-bedroom cottage would be perfect for buyers who want to get away from it all but don’t want to leave the city The two-storey home at Lugarno on the Georges River features a converted boat house is one of just three houses on that stretch of the river that are built right on the water The only other signs of civilisation are a few jetties and boat houses dotted along the shore Despite being only 40 minutes from the Sydney CBD Describing the property in the listing the owners say living there is "like a perpetual holiday "Our beloved riverside retreat has been the setting for joyous family gatherings Direct river access and a long set this riverfront home apart from other nearby properties The property features a converted boathouse at the end of a long jetty, which sales agent and Ausrealty partner Imam Sayed said is one of the home’s best features "It has one of the longest jetties I’ve ever seen and I’ve sold hundred of waterfront properties," he said The property is completely surrounded by water and bushland but can still be accessed from the street above "A level yard on the waterfront is extremely difficult to find The existing structure on the water is unbelievable - you can work from home while you’re fishing." The house is reached by stairs or an inclinator which provides access to the secure garage at street level the waterfront property would make a highly desirable short-term rental The property last traded hands in 2017 when it sold for $1.26 million Mr Sayed said the owners considered leasing the home as a short-term rental but decided to use it as their family home as it provided the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle of the city The whole lower floor is devoted to the main bedroom "Sydney is pretty fast paced and people leave or go on holidays to get away from how fast everything is." but when you get there it’s like a retreat." It was undervalued for a really long time." A few boat sheds on the opposite shore are the only other signs of civilisation The median house price in Lugarno rose 11.3% in the past year to $1.75 million "It has one of the longest jetties I’ve ever seen," said sales agent Imam Sayed these homes were built high on the hill rather than down by the water's edge a factor Mr Sayed said had drawn interest from across Sydney and interstate A historic 90 years of education will be celebrated at Lugarno Public School on October 30 Lugarno Public School was established after the District Progress Association wrote a letter to the Minister for Lands in 1927 Peakhurst Public School was the closest school to Lugarno the Department of Education requested the Department of Lands that the proposed school site A fibro building with a tiled and gabled roof was used as a Sunday School at first there were sufficient enough children in the suburb to warrant the establishment of a school In the school's early years (1933-1950) Miss Delia King was appointed the first teacher in charge of the school There were eight girls and nine boys to teach The old library at Lugarno Public School.Miss King had concerns about the condition of the playground She reported that there was great risk of accident due to protruding tree roots and stumps She found that although the school was connected to the Water Board's supply a 600 gallon corrugated iron water tank was installed In 1940 the school made its contribution to the war effort for the Second World War The school windows were covered with craft paper so as to adhere to blackout precautions The National Emergency Services held evening classes at the school in First Aid and Air Raid Precautions so it re-opened with the appointment of Ellen Collins later that year Its history continued with different principals growing enrolments and more modern buildings A school assembly in the outdoor playground surrounded by trees.Families of children who are currently enrolled at the primary school are invited to attend the celebration from 9.30am The school is combining the event with Grandparent's Day and former students and also invited to go on a school tour from 2pm-3pm RSVP essential: phone 9153 5737 or email lugarno-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Want more local news? Sign up for your free weekly newsletter. A pizza chef who concocted a stream of false stories in a bid to escape conviction for the gang rape of a teenage girl in the back of his restaurant has been found guilty in a Sydney court who was 38 at the time of the assault in Sydney’s south in October 2016 faced trial in the NSW District Court on three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent Ricardo Audish leaving the Downing Centre courts on Tuesday A jury of eight men and four women deliberated for two hours on Thursday before delivering the verdict of guilty on all counts They accepted the Crown’s case that Audish raped an intoxicated 18-year-old woman against a stack of chairs at the back of the Lugarno restaurant before she was allegedly passed around to three teenage males Audish initially claimed he wasn’t at the restaurant at the time of the assault When that was proven false by a co-worker’s police statement His next lie was that he did sleep with the woman Ricardo Audish arrives at court on March 2 Crown prosecutor Kate Nightingale said his account of what happened on the night of October 15 told the court he had a clear recollection that the woman “lifted her skirt “I remember she was wearing something tight” Ms Nightingale said the evidence against Audish meant he had to keep making up new false stories “It’s a bit like one of those horrible sale ads: but wait Ricardo Audish outside the Downing Centre courts earlier this month The court heard that prior to the sexual assault the woman had consensual sex with her boyfriend The woman told the court that before she was given the bongs her boyfriend had told her “the other boys want to have sex with you now” who had smoked cannabis before and said it made her feel “calm” said the substance given to her on the night of the assault made her feel dizzy and fall in and out of consciousness during which time Audish and the three young men “took turns” to have sex with her a member of the public found the disorientated woman struggling to walk and speak A paramedic told the court she was “almost hugging” a pole to hold herself upright when he arrived he thought her state was consistent with having her “drink or drug spiked” Audish’s barrister, Eugene Wasilenia, said the woman could have just been “tired” after having consensual sex with four people and said there was no evidence that the woman smoked anything but cannabis Ms Nightingale said the young woman was “a credible and reliable witness” and that her account of what happened was supported by “a mountain of evidence” who initially did not react as the verdict was handed down began shouting from the dock after his partner broke down into sobs Audish had suggested the police had worked with the victim to fabricate the entire case Mr Wasilenia had to tell him to be quiet before arguing his case for bail on the basis that Audish has a heart condition that requires surgery and he “is likely to be deceased” before his sentence starts if he isn’t treated Judge David Arnott SC refused bail ahead of a review on Friday morning Audish began swearing and slammed the bench in front of him His sobbing partner shouted at Ms Nightingale “you will never be happy in your life” as Audish directed his ire at a female detective saying “you f---ed my life” with this “bullshit case” whatever she said is f---ing bullshit,” he said “If I make a movie from this story it’s gonna be the biggest movie in the world” At the end of each day, we’ll send you the most important breaking news headlines, evening entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy.  Sign up here who was 38 at the time of the assault in Sydney\\u2019s south in October 2016 They accepted the Crown\\u2019s case that Audish raped an intoxicated 18-year-old woman against a stack of chairs at the back of the Lugarno restaurant before she was allegedly passed around to three teenage males Audish initially claimed he wasn\\u2019t at the restaurant at the time of the assault When that was proven false by a co-worker\\u2019s police statement he didn\\u2019t have sex with the young woman told the court he had a clear recollection that the woman \\u201Clifted her skirt But the woman wasn\\u2019t wearing a skirt \\u201CI remember she was wearing something tight\\u201D and \\u201Cno one remembers these things\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s a bit like one of those horrible sale ads: but wait her boyfriend had told her \\u201Cthe other boys want to have sex with you now\\u201D to which she responded: \\u201CHell no.\\u201D who had smoked cannabis before and said it made her feel \\u201Ccalm\\u201D during which time Audish and the three young men \\u201Ctook turns\\u201D to have sex with her A paramedic told the court she was \\u201Calmost hugging\\u201D a pole to hold herself upright when he arrived he thought her state was consistent with having her \\u201Cdrink or drug spiked\\u201D Ms Nightingale said the young woman was \\u201Ca credible and reliable witness\\u201D and that her account of what happened was supported by \\u201Ca mountain of evidence\\u201D Mr Wasilenia had to tell him to be quiet before arguing his case for bail on the basis that Audish has a heart condition that requires surgery and he \\u201Cis likely to be deceased\\u201D before his sentence starts if he isn\\u2019t treated His sobbing partner shouted at Ms Nightingale \\u201Cyou will never be happy in your life\\u201D as Audish directed his ire at a female detective saying \\u201Cyou f---ed my life\\u201D with this \\u201Cbullshit case\\u201D whatever she said is f---ing bullshit,\\u201D he said calling his victim \\u201Ca prostitute\\u201D \\u201CIf I make a movie from this story it\\u2019s gonna be the biggest movie in the world\\u201D At the end of each day, we\\u2019ll send you the most important breaking news headlines, evening entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. \\u00A0Sign up\\u00A0here Glenlee is being marketed as a private waterfront family estate or a clean slate for a developer Pictures suppliedListing agents One Commercial state that this is possibly the largest remaining waterfront residential property in metropolitan Sydney.Untouched in more than 110 years this historic piece of real estate has been held in the same family since 1908.Glenlee at Lugarno is on the market Billed as "possibly Sydney's largest remaining waterfront development site" the sale of Glenlee is being handled by One Commercial The 25,400sqm waterfront site at 80 Boronia Parade Lugarno includes a private jetty and boatshed "Finding a property like this anywhere in metropolitan Sydney anymore is simply impossible "If this was in Sydney's eastern suburbs it would be at least ten times the price We expect interest from retirement living operators individuals wanting a rural lifestyle in the city and of course developers," he said Georges River Council resolved last August to approach the State and Federal Governments to seek funding for the purchase of Glenlee Both levels of government have advised that there is no funding available An Interim Heritage Order on Glenlee expired on 28 January 2023 protecting the site from proposed subdivision into 31 lots so Heritage Assessments could be completed Council wrote to the then Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin requesting that a new Interim Heritage Order be placed over the property Mr Griffin advised that the Heritage Act 1977 did not permit the Minister to extend an IHO beyond its duration of 12 months The marketing agent for Glenlee contacted the council on 16 March and offered the property for sale setting aside one month to allow the council and the State Government to consider their position the council resolved to approach specific State and Federal Ministers the NSW Premier and the Prime Minister for urgent funding commitments for the acquisition of Glenlee More than 150 supporters of the The Friends of Glenlee rallied at Heinrich Reserve Lugarno on May 21 to discuss the next steps in their campaign to save the historic waterfront property for the community The rally passed a resolution calling on the State Government to immediately issue a new Interim Heritage Order for Glenlee as they had committed prior to the state elections the then Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe committed to giving a Ministerial Direction to allow access to the property of Glenlee to complete the further studies for the State Heritage listing assessment process Chef Regan Porteous (ex-Riley St Garage, Tequila Mockingbird, Toko) has taken his culinary skills south to join forces with the team at Respite a cocktail bar in Lugarno inspired by 1950s New York The place is co-owned by lifelong friends Simon Nardo and brothers Jackson and Louis Sobb (also ex-Riley St Garage) who grew up nearby and have since spent most of their adult lives working in hospitality Nardo tells Broadsheet Respite’s food has been created to complement what’s going on at the bar and draws on a number of cuisines citrus-dressed salmon ceviche served on tostadas and beef carpaccio lathered in bearnaise sauce on a bed of sliced Then there’s the fresh burrata with pickled onions and pistachio furikake (a Japanese seasoning) travel spots and more – curated by those who know The variety of small and large plates pairs succinctly with Respite’s cocktail list watermelon and Italicus (a bergamot liqueur) There’s also the summery LK Lava with Aperol All ingredients are fresh and muddled on the spot “Our approach to cocktails is a throwback to 1950s New York,” Nardo explains “We love that era and see it as timeless.” Careful service and interior design follow suit Respite Bar is in Lugarno’s strip of neighbourhood shops (flanked by a newsagency and a linen store) but once you’re inside a fireplace that gets a workout when cool weather allows and splashes of Respite’s signature colour: salmon pink live acoustic sessions feature local musicians “We wanted to create a bar with high-quality food and beverage Charcoal Chicken and Rosewater Desserts: A Local’s Guide to Merrylands 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 tight-knit group of residents and easy access to large shopping centres and the CBD via the M5 nearby But the suburb of Lugarno retains a very low profile and attracts virtually no buyers from elsewhere in the city too: large family homes in Lugarno start around $1 million and often include valuable amenities such as expansive gardens and private jetties So why aren’t Lugarno’s house inspections inundated with eager buyers who have been priced out of other comparable areas According to Ken Mason, a retired building contractor and current president of the Lugarno Progress Association the suburb’s geography has shielded it from the hungry Sydney market so there are no main roads going through,” he explains “The only people you see around here are the people who live here.” says the suburb mainly attracts couples and families from the St George area who are looking to settle down “Most of the people who come here tend to stay here,” he says “The only people who leave are those who are retiring somewhere else.” The Shire offers hope for Sydney's first-timers with new developments Sydney's 'sweet spots': The city's best affordable suburbs Liveable Sydney: The city's odd couples revealed by the study Hayden Duncan, an agent at McGrath St George says Lugarno is a compelling location for families beautiful parklands and a village shopping precinct.” [NSW Police commissioner] Andrew Scipione lives here.” Jack Huggett, an agent at PRDnationwide Oatley, says property investors often dismiss Lugarno without actually visiting. “With no train line, many recent investors have steered clear of the suburb,” he says. “But with fantastic quality of life and very realistic pricing, it’s only a matter of time until Lugarno cracks and has surging price growth.” Huggett adds: “Lugarno is a similar atmosphere to Oatley just without a train line and has always performed around 15 per cent below Oatley house prices just across the river.” The housing mix in Lugarno – which includes modest freestanding family homes and mansion-style properties with tennis courts and internal elevators – is another distinguishing factor. “Some streets were developed decades apart, creating a huge variety of homes,” says Duncan. “Many streets follow the ridge lines, hence a large proportion of the blocks are sloping, which creates a wonderful mix of designs and price points within the area.” This diversity can create confusion about the local market. The current median house price, according to Domain data, is $1,215,000. But many homes continue to sell well below the median. The lowest price in the past six months was $807,000, while the highest price was $2,375,000. Values have risen 51.9 per cent in the past five years, well below the Sydney average. The suburb is tightly held – Duncan says between 50 and 80 homes are listed per year. But according to Huggett, the suburb’s ageing population could create more activity in the years ahead as older residents opt to downsize and move elsewhere in the St George region. “I predict Lugarno to climb slowly to through 2017 with more homes starting to hit the mid 1-millions and more away from the low 1-million-dollar mark,” Huggett says. 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 It is being led by Tim 'Rosso' Ross - of commercial radio fame Tim has in recent years become a self-confessed design and architecture nerd music and storytelling show in architecturally significant houses around the country for the past 12 years at Lugarno and couldn't pass up the opportunity to include the house in their latest national tour for a live show named The Mid Century Project The Taylor House was originally designed by architect Allan S the house recently changed hands coincidentally to another Taylor family (no relation) The recent updates to the home including the bathroom and laundry were designed by Graeme Bell from Trace Architects Tim and Kit will take a peek inside the house as part of a project that examines some of the best mid-century modern homes in Australia For more than a decade they have been taking architecturally significant buildings and turning them into temporary theatres Tim supports important issues in Australian architecture and design in particular the 'Save Our Sirius' campaign fighting alongside a community to protect Sydney's then neglected modernist apartment building In 2018 Tim was rewarded with the National Trust Heritage Award for Advocacy which recognised his activism in drawing attention to Australia's legacy of modernist architecture and promoting its conservation In 2019 Tim was awarded the National President's Prize from the Australian Institute of Architects activism and outstanding contribution to the architecture profession Tim's two-part series on Australian architecture and quickly became the most watched arts program on the ABC for the year His live show about why architecture matters premiered at the Sydney Opera House in February 2020 the show features Australian families whose lives have been shaped within the walls of modern masterpieces and poses the question of what will happen to these legacy homes Designing A Legacy was adapted for television and went to air in February 2021 Exact address details will be sent to ticket holders the week of the show. A woman who cowered in a swamp to avoid a dog attack that killed her Jack Russell terrier is now suing the physiotherapist who allegedly owned the animals Eleanor Booth, 35, was walking her dog Indigo - 'Indi' for short - by Boggy Well Creek at Lugarno, south Sydney at about 9am on July 9 last year when they were allegedly set upon by two Irish Wolfhounds where they spent around half an hour trying to fight off the ferocious attack until they were rescued by police armed with pepper spray but died the following day while undergoing emergency surgery was charged in February with eight offences He has pleaded not guilty and the matter is listed for hearing in March next year Now, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Booth has launched civil action against Mr Helou in the NSW District Court under a public liability claim She is seeking damages for the injuries she allegedly suffered claiming Helou was negligent by failing to take reasonable care to prevent the incident from happening Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Booth and Mr Helou's legal representatives for comment Mr Helou allegedly told police he was 'pet-sitting' the two Irish wolfhounds then attacked Indi before turning on Ms Booth as she intervened to try to save her pet Mr Helou allegedly did not have dog leads with him at the time and then ran from the scene while Ms Booth and Indi were trapped in the creek allegedly being attacked by his dogs the two dogs were seized by by council workers at Helou's Peakhurst Heights home and put down many who heard the story rallied to raise funds for Indi's surgery and to  support Ms Booth who required surgery on her hands and forearm When approached by Daily Mail Australia in July 2023, Mr Helou - who is the lead physiologist at his family-owned clinic in Lugarno - refused to comment about what happened.  According to the clinic's website, it has been operating in south Sydney for more than 30 years and is a 'family-owned business you can trust'. 'The team at the clinic are highly motivated in helping the community in improving their mobility, strength and overall health,' it reads. Georges River Council launched an investigation into the incident in July last year. In February, the council announced charges had been laid under the Companion Animals Act 1998 Mr Helou has been charged with two counts of being the owner of a dog which attacks a person, two counts of dog attacking a person/s due to reckless act by person in charge, two counts of being in charge of a dog which attacks a person, and two counts of a dog attacking due to owners' recklessness.  His matter is listed for a three-day hearing before Sutherland Local Court to be heard on March 24, March 25, and May 6. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... 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The pair met another two boys, aged 15 and 17, and a 38-year-old man at the shop. All four are accused of drugging the woman before repeatedly raping her at the restaurant. The man is also accused of holding the alleged victim captive for a period of time after the attack, court documents show. The 38-year-old had the matter mentioned briefly in Liverpool Local Court this morning and chose not to be brought up from the holding cells. Court documents said the man allegedly deprived the woman of her liberty "for a period after the commission of the offence". He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. He will face court again in March. The teenage offenders also did not apply for bail at Campbelltown Children's Court. It was formally refused. Police allege the woman was given an unknown substance before being sexually assaulted several times. Officers said she was later found by a passer-by at Riverwood. The woman was treated by paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital. All four were charged with aggravated sexual assault. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Picture by Chris LaneGiving students a 'real world' boost to early job opportunities is frothing up success at Moorefield Girls High School Lions Club of Lugarno supports the school's Frangipani Cafe which is designed to assist students in the special education unit Students operate the cafe as part of their Work Education Life Skills syllabus They obtain fully accredited TAFE barista skills certificate of attainment and are known to make a pretty good cappuccino Principal Natalie Hale says the project has been a great success and social competence has been outstanding and sets our students up for successful work placement beyond Year 12," she said "This has broadened opportunities and some of our girls have gained part time jobs in local cafes as a result." Students get to work behind the counter of their school cafe Picture by Chris LaneRecently the school presented the President of Lions Club Lugarno Mike Butler with a Certificate of Appreciation for the club's generous contribution towards the cafe program the school needed to upgrade and purchase a new coffee machine which we were lucky enough to have a donation to support the purchase," Ms Hale said the Lions Club of Lugarno have continued to fund small upgrades to our facilities such as cafe blinds "The program could not run without the support of our community partners and it is incredibly beneficial to our students Tony Batlov and Reg Walker for visiting us to recognise the club's ongoing contributions We know they enjoyed their freshly brewed barista coffees." Picture suppliedIt wasn't that long ago these guys were sitting in a classroom at Lugarno Public School Fast forward and now they are members of a band called Phoenix and the Lugarno lads are gearing up for their first gig at Club Grandviews Lugarno on February 3 is new to the entertainment scene but they are ready to rock Their signature song is Can't Get You Off My Mind, which is available on Spotify and Apple Music Another one of their signature songs is Fooled Forever Loving You "We're a rock of band of locals who write rock inspired original songs in a day and age when people idolise DJs and computer generated music," band member Christian Barisic said "People are into making sound these days but we're in the business of making music." With rock inspired lyrics and riffs and a repertoire of eight original songs the boys are eager for audiences to hear their stuff "I founded the band as the lead guitarist and singer with my brother Tommy who is the drummer at around the start of 2023," Christian said. "I asked my high school friend Matteo to play the keyboard with us and later on in the year our bassist Ben joined. During that time Tommy came up with the name Phoenix as our band name and the motif of the Phoenix bird is that it never dies and is always reborn "The songs take parts of that 80-90s music especially the instrumental progressions as well as pop music of today." Picture: SuppliedSharing some of the same interests have been two of the keys to Lugarno couple Nancy and Ron Hayes' long and happy Ron Hayes was born in Crown Street Women's Hospital in Sydney in 1937 who moved with their family from Annandale to Ramsgate during the war years Nancy Jenkins was born in St George Hospital in 1939 whose parents moved the family from Hurstville to Rocky Point Road Nancy and Ron met in 1954 at a local dance and married seven years later Nancy started work at age 15 in her parents' florist shop in Redfern and continued in the florist industry until the mid-1980s changing to sales work until her retirement in 2003 Ron worked at Murdoch's - later to become Waltons - on a furniture truck then as a printer for Pak Pacific and later as a truck driver with Norco Later work for Ron was with Metal Manufacturers at Kogarah where he transported copper up from Port Kembla and then in warehousing until his retirement both Ron and Nancy were involved with the Ramsgate Junior Rugby League Football Club In 1972 Ron became involved with the St George District Rugby League Football Club where he was the ground announcer at Jubilee Oval He was also on the football club committee during part of this time and the highlights for him were the two first grade premierships that the Club won and also going on two overseas end-of-season trips one of Nancy's favourite pastimes has been spending time in her garden She has also been a keen volunteer and involved with a vintage car club Nancy and Ron Hayes during a family luncheon to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Picture: SuppliedThe couple has been living at Lugarno almost 50 years after moving there from Sans Souci in July 1971 who lives between Nowra and with his parents at Lugarno said over the years his parents had enjoyed the NSW South Coast for holidays and "they still get there every now and again when they are free from the ongoing medical appointments that never give you much of a break!" "The secret to long and happy marriage for them was having family support in their earlier years when they were trying to get established and that family support came from Nancy's parents," said Dean "Working through all of your hurdles along the way and having an involvement in some of each other's interests all helps." Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can access our trusted content: A small group of residents staged a protest when the ferry made its final crossing of the Georges River on December 12 which read, “Now we have to row to school” “With the Jolly Roger flying cheekily from the masthead, the Lugarno ferry made its last crossing of the Georges River last Thursday,” the Leader reported “The 16 car ferry will be towed to Berowra to replace a much older ferry “The service began in 1843 and four ferries two of them hand-powered, have been used “Financing of the service has been shared by the Department of Main Roads and Sutherland and Hurstville councils “Increased operating road costs of about $70,000 a year and the opening of the Alfords Point Bridge brought about the ferry's demise.” The Lions Club of Lugarno and Lugarno Sports Club planned a paying-off function, with an old stage coach period costumes and an evening barbecue and dance Sutherland Council refused to assist Premier Sir Robert Askin opened the $5 million Alfords Point Bridge on September 7 1973, in front of about 2000 people Sir Robert said the Main Roads Department had planned the bridge with an eye to the future there should be more than 17,000 vehicles using the bridge each day and 10 years later the daily volume could be as high as 80,000,” he said the Main Roads Department built foundations so a parallel bridge could be added in the future The first bridge started with one lane in each direction It was later turned into three lanes and a tidal flow arrangement was introduced in 1989 A parallel bridge costing $42 million was opened in 2008 Every Friday we delve into the Leader archives to embark on some time travel We will bring you a photograph of a news event from 57 years of Leader news coverage that you may or may not recall Flashback Friday submissions are also welcomed Feel free to share your recollections with us on our Facebook page @stgeorgesutherlandleader or email leaderletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au The school's buddy program aims to make the transition to primary school extra supportive Picture by Chris LaneAs Kindergarten pupils ease into their new surroundings there to help make the transition smoother are some keen and confident leaders A supportive hand to make the first day of school a little less daunting the older pupils at Lugarno Public School have been busy preparing to be leaders for their youngest peers the primary school buddy system pairs the senior pupils of a school with those in Kindergarten Year 5 take on the responsibility of helping the youngest group adjust to their new environment From helping them find a place to put their bag and showing them where the toilets are to pointing out the location of the canteen and library during lunch time all while gaining leadership skills and building friendships The idea is that Year 5 will have more time in the the school together with the little ones to build on connections "The Kindergarten - Year 5 buddy program is much loved by our students and ensures a smooth happy and successful transition into our school," School Principal Justine Williams said "Experienced teachers and a safe environment support this transition." A woman who stood neck-deep in mud and desperately tried to protect her dog from two Irish wolfhounds has spoken out after undergoing surgery on her hands Elle Booth, 34, was walking her Jack Russell Indi at Boggy Well Creek, at Lugarno in south Sydney on Sunday when they were set upon by the two dogs being walked by a man whose identity remains a mystery The pair ran into a muddy creek to seek shelter where they spent around half an hour trying to fight off the vicious dogs until eventually being rescued by police armed with pepper spray Indi sadly died on Monday evening after rushed into veterinary intensive care with critical injuries 'It was heartbreaking, she was killed in my arms ... I am genuinely lucky to be alive if they had decided to attack me I could have died,' Ms Booth told 7News on Tuesday.  Ms Booth said she saw the owner of the vicious dogs run off and was initially relieved assuming he had gone to get help - but it was the last she saw of him.  'I hope he takes responsibility for what has happened to my dog and to me,' Ms Booth said. The mystery man had blown a whistle and the dogs momentarily paused during the attack, with Ms Booth taking the opportunity to move further into the mud as she desperately tried to shield her pet from further harm. But when she turned back toward the shore and bush track, the man was nowhere to be seen - and she realised she was alone. Police are continuing to investigate the identity of the man and urge anyone with information to come forward.  The conditions were so treacherous officers who came to Ms Booth and Indi's aid also got stuck in the mud. Her husband Tom Dale told Daily Mail Australia his wife was 'brave as hell' and he was 'so proud of her'. 'He [the man] was yelling at Elle to get Indigo to stop running away, as it was exciting his dogs. He was trying to stop them but they were out of control,' Mr Dale said. 'He followed Elle down to the mangroves and when he saw his two dogs mauling Indi in the mud further out, he turned and ran away.' Family friend Tess Hutchison announced on Tuesday morning Indi had passed away overnight while undergoing emergency surgery after the horror attack.  'Unfortunately last night Indi passed away due to three heart attacks while being operated on,' Ms Hutchinson said. 'She fought until the very end and was such an incredibly brave little pup who will forever be loved by many.' Meanwhile, Ms Booth was rushed to St George Hospital after suffering injuries to her face, neck, arms, hands and legs and underwent surgery on her hands and forearm on Monday. The horror incident comes after the couple had only recently moved to the area to give their pets bush trails to explore. Ms Hutchinson said the event had changed the couple's lives 'forever' and has filled them with 'sorrow, heartache, and unspeakable pain'.  A GoFundMe page set up for the brave pet owner surpassed its $25,000 goal - the cost of Indi's vet bills - within hours. Ms Hutchinson shared her appreciation for everyone who had rallied to support the couple. She said despite Ms Booth suffering serious injuries, her concern and focus since the attack had been on Indi's wellbeing. 'We want to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who have donated, sent kind words and had both Elle and Indi in their thoughts over the last couple of days,' she said. 'Elle has suffered severe physical injuries and will have a long road to recovery, not to mention the emotional damage experienced.' After the attack, the Irish wolfhounds were seized by Georges River Council at a Peakhurst home. In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson said Georges River Council would not confirm whether the dogs were put down. 'We can confirm council staff worked with police on the day to locate and seize the dogs and will continue to work with police during the investigation. 'Residents are reminded to exercise responsible pet ownership to ensure the safety of our community and the wellbeing and safety of their pets by always walking their dog on a leash, unless in an authorised off-leash area.' Woman whose dog was killed by Irish Wolfhounds breaks her silenceCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Link copiedShareShare articleThree teenagers charged over the alleged gang rape of a young woman at a pizza shop in Sydney's south west have been granted conditional bail in a children's court. Police say the 18-year-old was drugged at a pizzeria in Lugarno in October, before a 38-year-old man, and two boys, aged 17 and 15, repeatedly raped her. They are all charged with aggravated sexual assault in company and deprivation of liberty. Another 17-year-old boy — known to the young woman — is accused of being an accessory before and after the alleged rape. In Parramatta Children's Court on Monday, the Crown prosecutor, Peter Clayton, opposed bail for each of the teenagers, stating the matter was "very serious". He told the court that if released on bail, the boys might try to interfere with the investigation or witnesses, or attempt to intimidate the victim. Mr Clayton referenced a chance meeting between one of the 17-year-old boys and the victim in Parramatta in December, where the teenage boy allegedly told the woman to "drop these charges". Mr Clayton told the court the teenager did not stop until the woman waved down a police car. The defence counsel for the two 17-year-old males, Elizabeth Nicholson, argued the teenagers should be granted bail because of their young age, the fact they had no prior convictions, and the weakness of the prosecution's case. She told the court the deprivation of liberty allegation was unsubstantiated, and challenged the sexual assault charge, describing it as one of "a number of difficulties in the Crown's case". "[It does not seem] that during the sexual intercourse she conveyed to any of the persons that she did not want to engage in sexual intercourse," she said. Ms Nicholson told the court that when the 18-year-old called her friend after the alleged attack, she did not suggest she had been sexually assaulted, instead saying she had taken something and felt unwell. "The complainant willingly, it seems, took cannabis … there is no mention of any other substance in the toxicology report," Ms Nicholson said. She also referred to intercepted calls between the accused offenders obtained over a number of months. While the Crown accepted the 17-year-old boy accused of being an accessory to the rape had consensual sexual intercourse with the woman, it opposed bail, saying the boy had played an "integral role in the participation of the event". The Crown prosecutor also opposed bail for the 15-year-old boy, saying he was a flight risk because he had only lived in Australia for six months. The boy's lawyer, Rebecca Dunlop, told the court he was a refugee from Iraq. "He is not afraid of the consequences, because the prosecution case against him is weak." The 15-year-old boy's mother cried in court during the proceedings. Magistrate Terry Murphy granted bail to each of the teenagers with a list of stringent conditions. They include reporting regularly to police, not contacting the victim directly or indirectly, not contacting each other, surrendering passports, and staying at their houses unless supervised by a parent. The 15-year-old boy was also granted permission to attend school. The three teenagers will appear in court again on Friday. The 38-year-old man, who is also accused of holding the alleged victim captive for a period of time after the attack, will face court again in March. When he appeared in Liverpool Court last Friday, he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. Rose and Jedson plant seedlings ahead of National Tree Day Picture: John VeageChildren dug deep on their school grounds ahead of National Tree Day this week and their outdoor lesson was a step in the right direction for sustainable futures Lugarno Public School held its Schools Tree Day on July 29 - in the lead-up to Planet Ark's National Tree Day on July 31 the school invited volunteers to help plant more than 250 seedlings Pupils also later formed the shape of a tree marking their commitment to proactively 'greening up' their school surrounds National Tree Day is Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event The event encourages all Australians to engage in environmental activities and preserve the beauty of the landscape Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the annual event has added significance this year with the Premier's Priority goal of planting one million new trees in Greater Sydney by the end of 2022 well within sight "We've passed the 800,000-tree mark and now we're on the home stretch towards meeting this incredible milestone," Mr Roberts said "Every tree planted and registered brings us one step closer and I know our communities will rise to the occasion." reserves and wetlands surrounding the Georges River area The council is also hosting a free plant giveaway on National Tree Day to celebrate and help educate the community about the importance of restoring the plants and trees within the local government area people will have the chance to learn how to plant specific species to maintain valuable vegetation and will also take home a native species for their garden All equipment will be provided but participants will need to bring their water bottle and hat on the day Bookings are required. There was already an established business when Mr Del-Grande took over the pharmacy in 1971 "I was managing a pharmacy at Penshurst when I heard that pharmacist Tom Hoskin was thinking of selling his Lugarno business," Mr Del-Grande said "So I went there to check it out with my wife who was expecting our first child," he said "Mr Hoskin said we seemed like a very nice young couple with a baby on the way and so was happy to sell the business to us I bought the business which consisted of the pharmacy "I was about to turn 27 and I went in lock Mr Del-Grande expanded the business and worked in the pharmacy from 1971 to 1989 before taking a break "I went off and became a travel agent for five years I love travel and there was a chance to get into the industry," he said "But I rediscovered my passion for being a pharmacist and became involved in running the business again in 2000." Mr Del-Grande saids there have been many changes in the pharmacy itself and the industry in general over the years The business has adapted to the ever-changing of the community A milestone was when Mr Del-Grande won the major award last year Professional Services Champion for the Pharmacist Advice Group This is a national award selected from 87 pharmacies in the Pharmacist Advice Group The award was recognition for the business and also for Mr Del-Grande's role in the industry as a preceptor or mentor of pharmacy students "The industry is now very much split between full-on discounting and specialised banner groups of pharmacies," he said By being a preceptor I have students coming through here and their training is very much mixing with the public I also have interns who are working in their first year after University "Since 2007 I have also been an examiner on the Pharmacy Board," he said "When I leased out the pharmacy I felt I had to come back because it is a passion "Lugarno is friendly and extremely community-based I would know 80 per cent of my clientele by their first names "People love to be recognised and feel some attachment to the pharmacy "Last year I had two interns working here which is unusual and they are now working for me full-time "They helped raise the standard by working as a unit Xia and Ann working here as well as our pharmacy assistant Linda "So as a community pharmacy we are unique in having so many professional pharmacists on board "With the pharmacy I don't look upon retirement at all I'm 77 and have been a pharmacist for 50-plus years "It's just as engaging as it always has been The industry is constantly changing and I can keep on learning "People say I don't look my age.I look after myself and keep fit The Lugarno Pharmacy is located at 1020 Forest Road A pet Jack Russell that was mauled by savage dogs despite the heroic efforts of her owner to save her has died from her injuries Indi was rushed into veterinary intensive care with critical injuries after she and her owner Elle Booth were attacked by two Irish wolfhounds at Boggy Well Creek Ms Booth stood neck deep in mud for 20 minutes in a desperate effort to ward off the attackers before police arrived and pepper sprayed the wolfhounds Family friend Tess Hutchinson announced on Tuesday morning Indi had passed away overnight while undergoing further emergency surgery 'Unfortunately last night Indi passed away due to three heart attacks while being operated on,' Ms Hutchinson said 'She fought until the very end and was such an incredibly brave little pup who will forever be loved by many.'  Ms Booth and Indi were walking along the trail when they were set upon by the two dogs The pair ran into the muddy creek to seek shelter where they spent 20 minutes trying to fight off the wolfhounds until they were rescued by police Ms Booth was rushed to St George Hospital after suffering injuries to her face while Indi was rushed to a vet with critical internal injuries Her husband Tom Dale told Daily Mail Australia that she underwent surgery on her hands and forearm on Monday and is now recovering The couple had only recently moved to the area to give their pets bush trails to explore Ms Hutchinson said Ms Booth bravely tried to protect Indi after the two aggressive dogs started nipping at her darted towards the river in a desperate attempt to escape the relentless assault,' Ms Hutchinson said followed by Elle and the man who was walking these dogs Indi was forced beyond the mangroves and into the mudflats beyond Elle charged after Indi into the mangroves her own safety abandoned in her unwavering determination to save her loyal companion Elle managed to pull Indi from the clutches of the attacking dogs but not without sustaining severe injuries herself.' Ms Hutchinson said the man walking the dogs blew a whistle and the dogs paused with Ms Booth taking the opportunity to move further into the mud as she desperately tried to shield her pet from further harm But when she turned back toward the shore and bush track the man was nowhere to be seen - and she realised she was all alone Elle stood in neck deep mud holding Indi above and continuing to hold the larger dogs off,' Ms Hutchinson said Emergency services then arrived at the scene after a family on the other side of the embankment saw what was happening and called for help The conditions were so treacherous officers who came to Ms Booth and Indi's aid also got stuck in the mud Mr Dale said his wife was 'brave as hell' and he was 'so proud of her' 'He [the man] was yelling at Elle to get Indigo to stop running away He was trying to stop them but they were out of control,' Mr Dale said 'He followed Elle down to the mangroves and when he saw his two dogs mauling Indi in the mud further out She initially assumed he'd gone to call for help Ms Hutchinson said the event had changed the couple's lives 'forever' and has filled them with 'sorrow She has launched a GoFundMe which surpassed its $25,000 goal - the cost of Indi's vet bills - within hours.  She said despite Ms Booth suffering serious injuries, her concern and focus since the attack had been on Indi's wellbeing.  'We want to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who have donated, sent kind words and had both Elle and Indi in their thoughts over the last couple of days,' she said.  'Elle has suffered severe physical injuries and will have a long road to recovery, not to mention the emotional damage experienced.'  In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson said Georges River Council would not confirm whether the dogs were put down.  Tragedy as Jack Russell Indi dies after she and her owner were mauledCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Picture: 7NewsA former employee has been charged over the assault of a well-known swimming instructor at Lugarno last wek lay injured for 16 hours in the bedroom of her Woodlands Avenue home after a violent home invasion left her with head injuries Detectives later arrested Joshua Petranker He has been charged with assaulting his former boss Detective Chief Inspector Robert Allison said the motive for the attack appeared to be robbery "A large amount of money had been stolen," he said Petranker appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Friday where the court heard Mrs Agius was scared of her former employee and had taken out an apprehended violence order against him which was to be heard in court this week The AVO will still be heard this week in conjunction with Petranker's bail application Oatley MP Mark Coure told Seven News he had known the victim "for years" and that she had taught both himself his younger brothers and his children to swim "She's a local champion in our local community," he said There has been an outpouring of support for Ms Agius on the Leader’s Facebook page Peakhurst west won’t be the same till you return This has rocked all in the family you have taught Your a tough swim coach but you get good results. Just ask my girls,’’ wrote Sharon Louise We wish her a speedy recovery And hope to see her quickly return to the pool,’’ Maria Pierou Sinanis posted PapaJohn Widmer wrote: ‘‘I have known Rose for a few decades A passionate swim school owner and a wonderful lady Our thoughts are with you sweetheart from Shire Swim School’’ Emergency services were called to Ms Agius's home after she was found injured in her bedroom about 9am on Thursday She was taken to St George Hospital where she was treated for head injuries "Officers from St George Police Area Command have been told the woman was allegedly assaulted after she found a man in her bedroom about 5pm on Wednesday," a police spokesman said Police will allege Petranker punched Ms Agius to the ground before kicking her until she lost consciousness "It’s believed she lay injured for 16 hours before being found," the police spokesman said "Detectives initiated inquiries and about midday arrested a 34-year-old man on Forest Road at Peakhurst "He was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence inflicting actual bodily harm." died on Sunday at the age of 57 after a long battle with cancer leading to him being awarded the Order of the Medal of Australia (OAM) for service to cricket and the community in this year's Queen's Birthday honours he had responsibility for all the junior cricket clubs and schools in Sutherland Shire fostering the next generation of interest in the sport Mr Price told the Leader he enjoyed passing on his cricketing knowledge and believed the sport provided valuable lessons for the next generation "It's the values you learn by being in a team," he said In a team you learn how to win and you learn how to lose but when your lose you learn to lose graciously "In a team you learn how to win and you learn how to lose but when your lose you learn to lose graciously." Mr Price started playing cricket at 17 with the Briars Cricket Club at Concord where his father and two brothers also played He was chairman for 30 years and retained the position until his death "It was through his determination that Gerard turned Briars Cricket into the most successful cricket club in the shires competition with record breaking club championships and premierships during his time as chairman," a club tribute said Gerard's success will never be judged on premierships alone "More importantly was his ability to offer a stable and well-respected sport allowing many juniors and seniors the opportunity to play cricket "It was Gerard's unique ability to create such a culture within cricket that provided an environment that allowed cricket to grow and flourish under his watch." Mr Price was described as "a true representation of what amateur sport is all about and the wider cricket community through his work with Cricket NSW" "Gerard had the personality that was welcoming and engaging the drive and motivation to make sure that the job got done and without fuss integrity and determination required to be the leader that he was "All these characteristics came together to make him the person we all admired St George Cricket Club president and Cricket NSW board member Kevin Greene said Mr Price was "highly respected by all with whom he worked parents or most importantly the young people he encouraged into cricket" "He loved the game but also the positive attributes it developed," Mr Greene said "Gerard had many friends and they like his family will miss a wonderful man who gave so much to the community." Mr Price was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in 2013 and underwent four major operations and numerous rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy he remained resolute and cheerful and took part in a number of cancer fundraising events including cycling from the Sydney Cricket Ground to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2015 and following this up by cycling from the MCG to Adelaide Oval the following year His tenacity and ability to deal with adversity was inspiring Mr Price left hospital six weeks before his death to be surrounded by the comfort of his wife Jane and their children Damian was last seen about 8pm on Wednesday leaving Belmore Road and walking towards a bush area at Lugarno officers from St George Local Area Command were contacted and commenced a search “Amy-Lee has not been seen or heard from since and concerns are held for her welfare,” the spokesman said with dark-brown hair with red and purple streaks and she was last seen wearing black tracksuit pants and a black singlet Information should be reported via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at : nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/  Picture: John VeageA falling gum tree took two other trees in Margaret Crescent crashing into the roof of a bedroom when a two-year old boy was sleeping Zac Nianeevski said his son Marcus was asleep in his bedroom about 10.30pm when tree fell into the house sounding like an explosion My wife Danica ran in there thinking something had happened to him and grabbed Marcus and ran to the TV room “I walked outside and there were branches everywhere “It took a couple of minutes to realise what had happened.’’ Mr Nianeevsk said that a larger tree fell taking two smaller trees with it “The big tree was about 20 to 25-metres tall and about 1-metre thick It took out two smaller trees and fortunately these cushioned the fall otherwise somebody could have been killed “My parents have asked for the two smaller trees to be removed.” was asleep in the house when the tree fell We have been asking to have the trees removed but the council said now The family were still waiting at 2pm this afternoon for a crane to arrive to remove the trees