provided by NSW Planning.Sutherland Shire Council will request Sylvania and Menai be exempted from the state government's low and mid-rise housing changes apartment blocks of four to six storeys are permitted within 800 metres The council voted unanimously this week to write to the Minister for Planning "requesting the application of the policy be amended to ensure a better transition in density can be achieved and that the reforms not apply to centres without access to mass transport networks and / or bushfire prone areas specifically the Greater Menai Area and Sylvania" The council will also write to the planning and transport ministers "seeking clarification of the state government's planned infrastructure investment for each centre identified in the low and mid-rise housing reforms to assist council in the development of relevant Place Plans" who successfully asked for stronger language in the motion moved by mayor Jack Boyd said the council had delivered on its previous housing targets Cr Strangas said Menai was a bushfire zone and Sylvania had only a few bus stops as transport infrastructure Four to six storey apartment blocks in the Sylvania area would create "disastrous gridlocks" on roads Cr Laura Cowell said councillors representing the Menai area knew from daily experience how bad the traffic was and the potential for roads to be clogged during any evacuation Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy The Australian Government is funding proposed improvements on Alfords Point Road between Brushwood Drive and Menai Road at Menai as part of the $2 billion Road Safety Stimulus Program (RSSP) Drainage and Wire Rope Upgrades will be installed on Alfords Point Road between Brushwood Drive and New Illawarra Road The upgrade includes a 2.6km long median rope wire barrier a new guard rail under the Brushwood Drive Bridge To complete asphalting work on Alfords Point Road temporary traffic changes will be in effect from Sunday 16 February For further details, please check the February community notification (PDF, 484.96 KB).  Alfords Point Road between Brushwood Drive and Menai Road at Menai has been identified as high-risk section of road for incidences and crashes involving road users This upgrade will deliver a safer and more reliable journey for those travelling on one of Sydney’s busiest corridors Work will commence in late January and is expected to be completed in June 2025 Work on this project commenced in late January 2025 Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us Email: info.harbour@ConnectSydney.com.au  Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Picture suppliedThis certainly was great showman 'sheep' Menai High School students had some success in the judging arena at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year Agricultural teacher Rebecaa Gray said students competed in the poultry showmanship and sheep handlers categories Emily Traynor was sixth in poultry showmanship second and third place in the School's Softfeather True Bantam Any Breed Class and Champion Schools Poultry Class One of the school's ewes also won for each of her events to become Champion Border Leicester Ewe in the Open Classes (a first win by a school) St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering education, health and general community news. Email: ekolimar@theleader.com.au 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 Add videos to your saved list and come back to them any time Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school Skills NSW helps post high school students find courses in vocational training across a wide variety of industries and course providers The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support Menai High has a mantra to move HSC students up the achievement bands and the strategy is paying off Every year at the start of Year 12 Menai High School teachers measure student achievement in each HSC subject and then set a target to predict success by exam time Principal John Stanley explains the band prediction tracking measure: “We say to the students ‘Whatever band you’re sitting in at the start of Year 12 we want to move you one band higher by HSC time’,” he said along with our strong learning culture – 40 per cent of our cohort this year are band 5 and 6.” The learning culture includes high expectations and trusting relationships for both students and teachers and consistent formative assessment and feedback The HSC class of 2024 is receiving additional respect from Menai High teachers as they had just entered their teenage years in Years 8 and 9 when COVID-19 severely disrupted their learning with lockdowns “This is the cohort that went through COVID in their junior years and had a rough trot,” Mr Stanley said about how proud we are at how these students came back in Year 10 and knuckled down for their senior studies.” Menai High was back to its consistent HSC performance of pre-COVID years with the 180 students receiving 91 Band 6s and at least a dozen students with ATARs over 95 Mischa Davies was first in the State in English Studies Examination the two-unit course that focuses on honing writing and literacy skills and the fundamentals of English with less of an emphasis on studying novels plays and poetry as in other English courses focused and friendly student who not only attended every lesson and consistently applied herself but always sought the feedback of her teachers and worked with our learning support staff to keep developing her writing,” Mr Stanley said she succeeded across all her subjects with high ranks and strong results in subjects ranging from English to Visual Arts to Textiles and Design A true product of Menai High School exit outcomes of being a skilled learner Twins Lily and Kallie Thompson joined friends today at Menai High’s traditional barbecue for HSC students The twins and their parents were filmed on Wednesday by The Sydney Morning Herald as Lily logged in for her HSC results at 6am Lily said she studied up to four hours a day in the lead-up to the HSC exams “We also used a study tracking app to study together and create an additional motivation as well as a friendly competition,” she said because your mental health is more important.” Isaac Warwar worked hard for his ATAR of 96 studying Advanced English History Extension and Standard Mathematics with three major works to develop for the HSC He would like to pursue a career as a writer via university study in law and communications Reaching the finish line of Year 12 and the HSC was “the greatest I’ve felt all year” “The HSC seems so far behind and everything in the future seems so close “I wish I knew how this felt when I was doing my HSC so I had that light at the end of the tunnel but it’s here now and it’s great.” We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education Laughter Yoga Australia brings social laughter clubs to Sutherland Shire residents laughter leaders from around Australia unite to celebrate World Laughter Day by holding public events and naturopath Mary-Kate Hoogland will meet Laughter Yoga participants for a laughter session Laughter Yoga is a process that enables people to laugh for an extended time as a physical act rather than an intellectual response to something funny Cost is $25 per session or $20 per session if five sessions are booked Details Picture suppliedMenai Marketplace has launched a free community tech help program that focuses on increasing the IT literacy of senior residents and help youth gaining essential communication and employability skills The intergenerational programis provided through Youngster.co and aims to connect generations of the community the program tackles social issues such as youth unemployment and isolation while providing much-need technology support to older generations Free community tech help program launched at Menai MarketplaceCustomers at the HomeCo centre can book for free fortnightly sessions to learn about a different technological related topic such as setting up new devices Each session runs for 30 minutes and has a maximum of eight people with two trained 'Youngsters' to assist and educate The sessions are being held in an allocated space in front of Big W The program provides valuable career development opportunities for young people youngsters receive Google Career Scholarships giving them access to professional certification courses youngsters can apply for roles at leading companies including Google The Youngster.co program also aims to address loneliness and isolation for both generations presenting a unique opportunity to form connections and learn valuable lessons from one another Menai Marketplace. Picture suppliedTo learn more, visit http://www.youngster.co and book your free public session at HomeCo Menai Marketplace or visit the team at the Centre Management Office on Level One for assistance Picture by Chris LaneConcerns have been expressed Menai will not be able to handle a bushfire evacuation if more housing is imposed on the area through the new apartments policy The issue was raised at Monday night's meeting of Sutherland Shire Council which voted down a motion by Liberal councillor Melanie Gibbons to "fight" the state government's planning changes which will permit four to six storey apartment blocks in 10 areas of the shire Minds were cast back to previous evacuations including chaotic scenes during devastating fires in December 1997 which led to the construction of the high-level Woronora Bridge Mayor Jack Boyd said the council would be putting forward claims for infrastructure to support the changes but Liberal councillors said nothing had been announced and Shire council decides against fighting four to six-storey apartments change Cr Gibbons said social media showed the Menai community was "incredibly concerned about transportation links particularly being a bushfire prone area" "I don't know how the people will get in and out of the area [in an emergency]," she said the Alfords Point Bridge was duplicated and the [high level] Woronora Bridge was built Cr Nikolovski said he had lived almost his entire life in the Menai area recalled previous emergencies have been consultation or discussion about this [between the council and government] but from what I can tell it's out of the blue and quite out of nowhere." Crs Nikolovski and Haris Strangas said Sutherland Shire had met the previous housing targets set by the government "We have done some pretty heavy lifting," Cr Nikolovski said "If we are going to take on more development we need to future proof these suburbs and work with the state government especially when you consider which was found hanging on a fence with its paw caught in the wire is alive thanks to a Menai Fire and Rescue NSW crew and the person who alerted them The station received a call just before 8pm on Monday that the dog was seen hanging from a fence at Lucas Heights Captain Brady Clark and firefighters Mitchell Smithson and would have died overnight had we not released it," Captain Clarke said The crew took the dog to a 24-hour vet at Miranda where it was found to have minor injuries and was kept for observation Picture FacebookThe owner was being sought through a microchip check and an appeal on social media Picture by Murray TrembathNew traffic signals will be installed at intersections at Sutherland and Lucas Heights and a set of signals at Caringbah will be upgraded They are among six road safety projects to be carried out with more than $7 million in joint funding for the Cook and Hughes electorates from the federal and state governments The announcement was made by Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm and Senator Tony Sheldon The statement said the funding "will ensure greater levels of safety at each of project locations reducing the risk of crashes that cause fatal or serious injuries." Other projects include wombat crossings to busy areas near various primary schools The installation of a 2.6km long median rope wire barrier is the reason night-time road works will be carried out on Alfords Point Road Transport for NSW said the barrier would be installed between Brushwood Drive and New Illawarra Road and a new guard rail would also be constructed under the Brushwood Drive Bridge to be completed across seventy 8pm to 5am shifts was scheduled to start on January 28 and finish in June with no work taking place on Sundays and public holidays traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place The work will be carried out as part of the Federal Road Safety Program which aims to improve safety and reduce crashes on NSW roads Traffic changes will occur during six months of night-time road works on Alfords Point Road at Menai A Transport for NSW spokesman said the changes were necessary to complete safety improvements between Brushwood Drive/Fowler Road and New Illawarra Road/Old Illawarra Road "Work will be carried out across 70 shifts between 8pm and 5am from 28 January to 26 June "Work is expected to occur for up to five consecutive nights traffic control and reduced speed limits will be in place for the safety of pedestrians "Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic controllers "Transport for NSW thanks the community for its patience during this time." I'm prompted to write by the recent Leader article on the impossibility of getting out of Menai in a bushfire I was principal of Menai Primary School in 1997 when we were forced to evacuate 560 children We had one destination and that was Menai High School but when that was declared unsafe we were off again A young teacher on a front bus opted for Revesby Workers Club But our buses were the last vehicles to get out And once out we were out the bulk of the parent body was still in and the remainder were still out Parents survived and so did all the children but people were wandering around like lost sheep or sweating it out on the borders of Menai wondering where their children were It is utterly imperative that each school has a detailed plan of where to go and how to get there.The police could not be relied upon as many were from outside areas and knew nought about local geography Bushfires of the '97 magnitude are frightening events But terrifying is a mild term when you can't get out of Menai and conversely you can't get back in Simon Kennedy even bothers plastering the electorate with his corflutes and bus shelter advertising when he'll sleepwalk into winning the seat Obviously Labor has no confidence in ever winning the seat They didn't even both running a candidate in last years byelection as much as Simon Earle will give it a good shot this time It's so disappointing that the Voices of Cook group was unable to find a high profile and motivated independent candidate to run in the upcoming election A viable small L liberal progressive candidate unencumbered from straight jacket major party dogma is sorely needed to make it a real contest and not just a take-it-for-granted Liberal heart-land seat With the existential issues facing the nation and other pressing issues like housing and extensive tax reform needed the major parties are dithering around the edges and offer very little vision and inspiration We would like to thank mayor Jack Boyd for speaking at our recent St Aloysius Social Justice Group It is inspiring to see where the council is heading in reducing waste and expanding recycling opportunities.I we will see the council move towards offering FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) services like many other councils already offer Other initiatives include a permanent depot to receive difficult to handle waste We also thank local business groups who participate in Recycle Smart Our parish has been collecting small waste for specific recycling such as blister packs and toothpaste tubes the council reduced its electricity costs by moving to 100 per cent renewable energy I wholeheartedly agree about the state of Cronulla mall There is also another problem because some people have no regard for others Once upon a time it was "every man and his dog" I was at Cronulla the weekend before last and decided to walk through the mall Despite clear signs saying that no riding was allowed there were a number of people - even adults - who were riding these things And often there are 3-4 kids on these things - very dangerous for not only pedestrians.. I question whether there is political will to tackle this problem but as we are seeing a rise in e-bike near misses I thought I should voice our concerns rather than just complaining among ourselves Myself and other residents are really concerned because there have been incidents where e-bikes have collided and / or almost collided with pedestrians. The mall especially is frequented by people of all ages and with the increasing number of e-bikes and the speed with which they are travelling we can expect more accidents Cronulla is not the only suburb that has e-bikes and the ones that ride them don't care about the general public they just fly pass like it's their property and we are trespassing it's just another place for the to ride at high speed and there's nothing done about them you just get a mouthful of arrogance and bad language Picture supplied by Dermot CarlinLong-known in the Sutherland Shire community as Cafe Y the hospitality training hub operated by the charity Project Youth has a new name It's now known as Cafe Social and will continue to support young people in their career paths the social enterprise cafe at Menai has been a vital stepping stone for young people facing homelessness and disadvantage providing employment pathways to help them break cycles of disadvantage Project Youth Chief Executive Jodie Darge said the mission remains unchanged - to "nourish potential" "This new name reflects our deep commitment to making our purpose central to our identity and ensuring our community understands why we exist and how we create impact," she said She says it's a new identity and a "cafe with a purpose" "Our name change allows us to communicate better that we are more than just a cafe - we are a social enterprise dedicated to creating pathways out of homelessness for young people," Ms Darge said and every interaction at Cafe Social transforms lives With the continuing support of our community we are working together toward a future where youth homelessness is no longer a reality Ms Darge says that since its launch 10 years ago the cafe has become a "hidden gem" in the suburb's heart Cafe Social has provided more than 320 young people with trauma-informed wraparound support services to remove barriers to training and employment It has offered direct employment to 35 young people and industry training and job readiness programs for 280 more It has delivered 10 traineeships and facilitated more than 3000 hours of work placements By providing young people with financial independence Cafe Social gives young employees on-the-job training ensuring they are not just working but thriving and preparing for long-term careers Residents are encouraged to support the cafe to keep thriving by visiting the cafe for breakfast hosting a team meeting by booking a space there or ordering catering for business events which provides a meal for a needy young person Picture suppliedThe Menai community is rallying its support behind a family that lost a loved one unexpectedly She leaves behind her husband Nick and their four children Two of their children attend Holy Family Catholic School Family friend and school parent Hayley Woodward says many people in the school community want to help the family after the tragic loss "My kids attend the school and our kids play soccer together for Bangor Soccer Club," she said "My husband Craig from Menai Music has also united with Club Central to hold a benefit night to help raise funds for the family and support them through a difficult time," she said "They have been working their way through life and the new circumstances of not only losing their mum/wife but trying to grieve and look after the four kids it's the first one without their mum around We want to bring the community together to help in some way." coach and a manager of the Barden Ridgebacks Netball Club She was well-known in the local sporting community "Until her funeral we didn't really have any appreciation of the size of her network," her husband Nick said and the amount of people who know us because of her A total of $78,430 was also raised for the family through a GoFundMe fundraiser. "The support is unbelievable," Mr Palisi said You can't put into words how grateful we are [The Woodwards] have taken us under their wing and they're promoting the community to back us He said the family was learning to cope with the loss Unfortunately it seems her heart was the culprit "We learn something new but we roll with it 'We've had three birthdays since Kate passed...we are going to try to keep things the same as what we would have done for Christmas previously - spending time with family For me it's still a matter of keeping the Christmas spirit and making sure the kids have a pleasant time and that it's not too taxing - that they still get to enjoy their childhood." so the idea is to have the room at the fundraiser filled with splashes of purple Tickets Kate Ritchie showed off her athletic prowess as she took to the soccer pitch to play for the Menai Hawks on Saturday The radio host, 46, joined the team for a one-off match at Buckle Reserve in Menai, southern Sydney, as part of a collaboration with her station Nova FM She didn't fail to throw all her effort into the match as she was pictured running around the pitch as she supported her teammates The Home and Away actress got involved with all the match day antics as she was seen smiling and laughing during the match against Grays Point Soccer Club Kate cut a sporty figure in the Menai Hawks' black and yellow soccer strip and completed her outfit with a pair of bright red boots She gave her all to the match and according to one Instagram user who claimed to have watched the action shared an array of videos to Instagram in the lead-up to the match as they urged people to go down and watch Come and support Kate for your chance to win $1,000 with Kate's $1k kick,' they revealed Nova sponsors the Menai Hawks and their logo features on their soccer strip and Kate's involvement was part of a promotional drive for the station and the team Kate had trained with Sydney FC's goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne with footage from the amusing session being shared to Instagram Kate could be seen both serving as the goalkeeper and striker as she practiced her skills on the pitch with the famed soccer star Kate proved herself to be a natural as she saved goals shot at her by Andrew before he revealed he was going easy on her The presenter also joked that watching her young daughter Mae play soccer had helped her train for her debut on the pitch Kate shares Mae with her NRL star ex-husband Stuart Webb, who she split from in 2019 after nine years of marriage. The exes reunited earlier this month to celebrate their daughter Mae's 10th birthday together as they all headed out for breakfast together.  The family all appeared to be in jovial spirits as they flocked around Mae on her special day, with Kate being spotted with armfuls of gifts for her daughter. Elsewhere last weekend, Kate joined a whole host of Aussie stars attending the 2024 TV Week Logie Awards. For the big night in Aussie television, Kate showed off her incredible figure in a show-stopping blush tulle gown with a corseted bodice. She added to her ageless beauty with a warm make-up palette and kept her essentials in a gold designer purse. Kate added some glitz with a pair of dangling earrings and a glistening ring and matched her manicure to her outfit. 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Where 'soft-touch' Britain's asylum seekers are REALLY coming from No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}} Ceri Menai-Davis said he wanted the challenge to reflect ‘what it is like to carry the weight of your child and the weight of a parent’s grief’ News | London Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A father who ran the London Marathon in memory of his six-year-old son Hugh, who died of a rare form of cancer in 2021, has raised over £50,000 for charity completed the 26.2-mile course with 20kg strapped to his back — symbolising his son's weight at the time of his death — along with the names of 200 children currently battling cancer The 42-year-old from Hertfordshire said he wanted the challenge to reflect “what it is like to carry the weight of your child and the weight of a parent’s grief.” Mr Menai-Davis’ son Hugh died just days after his sixth birthday from rhabdomyosarcoma — a rare form of cancer that forms in soft tissue or hollow organs like the bladder or uterus I have done three marathons previously and the first one I did was just after Hugh died “I buried my son with the first medal I received because it was Hugh who wanted to me to do it “This year I wanted to do something different Hugh weighed 20kg when he died and so I thought I will carry the weight of him around with me I also wanted it to reflect the weight of a parent’s grief “I took a massive bottle of Evian with me and I think I drank about seven litres across the whole thing It was so hot and you could see people tripping as they neared the end but you just had to keep going You are running 26 miles and everyone is giving you high fives You don’t often get that rush of people cheering you on “Everyone is running with a name and a reason “I did cry when I passed that finish line.” Mr Menai-Davis raised an impressive £25,000 for his charity which provides financial support to parents of children undergoing cancer treatment Alongside six other runners also raising money for the charity Ceri and his wife Frances Menai-Davis received the devastating news that their son Hugh All the best pictures from the 2025 London Marathon Pregnant Jesy Nelson shares 'emotional' message to boyfriend from her hospital bed Meal2Deal: on a mission to make food poverty history Hugh underwent 16 weeks of intensive radiotherapy while his parents made a 100-mile round trip each day from their home in Hertford to the hospital and shocked by the lack of financial support available to parents caring for a seriously ill child the couple decided to launch their charity to help others facing similarly heartbreaking circumstances They are now campaigning for a change in the law to help parents whose children require length hospital stays due to serious illnesses ‘Hugh’s law’ would offer assistance to help parents cover expenses while they care for their child To find out more visit it’sneveryou.com David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints VE Day 2025 flypast and parade LIVE: King Charles and senior royals watch procession as crowds line the Mall King joined by senior royals to watch VE Day parade before flypast Donald Trump says non-US movies to be hit with 100% tariff in major blow to UK film industry Trump says non-US movies face 100% tariff in blow to UK film industry UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Revealed: The real reason Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday amid family feud Revealed: Why Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday We use JavaScript to set most of our cookies Unfortunately JavaScript is not running on your browser so you cannot change your settings using this page To control your cookie settings using this page try turning on JavaScript in your browser We've saved some files called cookies on your device We would also like to save some cookies to help: You've accepted all cookies for this website. You can change your cookie preferences at any time The next stage of works to fully restore the Menai Suspension Bridge are set to commence on 3 March The phase two works will include painting of the underdeck upgraded lighting and some final structural repairs in preparation for the bridge’s 200th anniversary in 2026 the bridge will remain open with traffic management in place to reduce disruption to local residents The 7.5 tonne weight restriction will also be reintroduced during this time to ‘free up’ capacity on the bridge so that temporary works platforms and necessary equipment can be installed to carry out the works Motorists are urged to adhere to the weight restriction and plan ahead For further information please select the following links: Lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday All content is available under the Open Government License And the message was clear - check on your classmates by asking a simple question that can mean so much Menai High School's Head Teacher of Well-Being said the student-led project was called 'Week Appreci8' The week involves students completing a wall of thankfulness There was also representation from Sutherland Shire mental health organisations including Headspace "This well-being initiative is a culmination of our vision to continue to build on a strong sense of student connection and continue to foster a positive school culture," Ms Stone said "Our R U OK celebrations are an explicit reminder that support is always available and that Menai High School 'appreci8s' every one of its students and staff The message behind our celebrations is about establishing positive and safe relationships that foster supportive conversations within our school community It is a reminder to all that every day is the day to ask who is on the Student Representative Council said the event promoted positive mental health when we hosted a carnival with games and food trucks," she said "[It's about] promoting inclusivity and togetherness allowing all students to have fun with their fellow peers creating a positive atmosphere." The school has hosted the event for the past two years "It has always been such an incredible event It has definitely increased my mental perspective on school and allowed me to feel like I belong with the most loving community." She hoped the school event would inspire all students "With the cost of living causing an economical depression amongst families and individuals I feel as an event like this would be a much needed promotion to encourage individuals to start the conversation and save lives," the student leader said Day was founded in 2009 by the late Gavin Larkin whose father died by suicide in 1995 He wanted to spare other families the grief his family endured It has since become a nationwide community movement that encourages everyone to genuinely ask the question and have a meaningful conversation with those in their world who might be struggling but it's grown into a conversation movement," Chief Executive of R U OK "People are acknowledging that you shouldn't wait until R U OK Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732; 13 YARN (139276) King Charles III succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II on the British throne after her death on Sept becoming king of not just the United Kingdom He was the oldest sovereign to take the throne in a lineage that dates back 1,000 years when he succeeded his hugely popular mother after her death Less than two years after becoming the king Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 Prince William is unlikely to wait as much as his father did to become the king the UK would activate Operation Menai Bridge Prince William will immediately become the king and he would address the nation without any delay The country would plunge into mourning and Charles' body would be moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall to lie in state Nine days later a grand state funeral would take place before Charles is laid to rest at Windsor Castle The UK would prepare for King William's coronation and money and stamps would be reprinted with his face Kate Middleton would officially become queen and Prince George would step into the role of heir to the throne Picture by Chris LaneA community book exchange has been established in Menai Marketplace thanks to a woodwork project carried out by Menai Men's Shed The Men's Shed built a mobile library - a set of shelves Books and magazines are donated to the library and taken freely on loan by shoppers and others from the community said the book exchange developed from an idea shared by Michelle from the Salvos at Bangor "The project was managed and built by the shed's master craftsman designed by Kevin and the painting and staining was done by Daryl," he said which is located in The Ridge sporting complex Menai Men's Shed members and councillors in 2022 Picture by John VeageThe group was launched in 2010 at Alfords Point Community Centre at the instigation of Menai Community Services using mainly hand and power tools donated by members shuffle boards and other simple devices were made for local residential aged care centres In 2015 Sutherland Shire Council offered Menai Men's Shed use of the current building on a long-term lease Services include projects from the local communities the mentoring of some school projects and the manufacture of various items of furniture has an extensive range of wood working machines and a fully equipped metal workshop with mills welders and a variety of metal cutting devices Menai earlier this year after 42 years at Bangor Picture DAThe upper level of Inaburra Preschool at Menai will be repurposed as a Baptist church under plans lodged with Sutherland Shire Council A development application (DA) said the proposed development would provide "a multifaceted community hub that supports both early childhood education and religious activities serving the dual purpose of meeting local childcare needs and providing a space for communal and Christian gatherings" Inaburra Preschool moved to 593 Old Illawarra Road The building is currently approved entirely as a childcare centre for 155 children but at present caters for only 60 children a day The DA said it was proposed to re-purpose the upper level as a place of public worship (church) Picture Facebook"The ground level will remain as a childcare centre for 88 children and will also provide for a shared main pedestrian access to the remaining childcare area and the church facilities above," the DA said "The upper level alterations will involve a small floor area extension and a new fit-out to enable an auditorium space for up to 150 people and various offices and other amenities "These changes aim to enhance the functionality of the space for its new purpose while ensuring compatibility with the building's original architectural style "The north facing upper level outdoor area will be generally retained as existing other than the addition of a small lounge area room at the southern end of the space "The outdoor area will be used as per the operational management plan requirements and will support community activities like Sunday services thereby enriching the site's communal appeal and practical use." The DA seeks a variation to the maximum building height development standard for the site from nine metres to 10.9 metres to allow construction of "a minor upper storey infill component" Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales “Every effort is being made to minimise further disruption to communities on both sides of the bridge we paused phase two to reduce the impact on businesses over the Christmas period and increase resilience during periods of severe weather This has proved to be beneficial during recent storms when the Britannia Bridge was fully closed “We would also expect better weather for phase two to continue from March onwards “I would like to thank once again those affected for their patience as we make final preparations to restore the bridge to its finest state in time for its 200th anniversary in January 2026 More information is available here: A5 Menai Bridge: frequently asked questions | GOV.WALES Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ Following the replacement of all 168 hangers on the bridge it has been confirmed that phase one of the programme will be completed on schedule The bridge will reopen on Saturday 2 November 2024 [00:01hrs] which amongst other things involves the repainting of the bridge will be paused for four months (November 2024 to February 2025) to allow for the full reopening of the bridge including the lifting of the 7.5 tonne weight limit This will not impact the schedule for the 200th anniversary in January 2026 This will bring a number of benefits including: For further information please select the following link: Menai Suspension Bridge reopens over winter after hanger replacement completed on schedule | GOV.WALES 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 The Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students now face intensive training for the event By NOTICEBOARD · 30 April 2025 Grŵp Llandrillo Menai students Evan Klimaszewski (pictured above) and Yuliia Batrak (pictured below) have been selected to represent the UK against the best in Europe They will head to Denmark in September to compete against the crème de la crème of the continent at EuroSkills Herning 2025 who is studying for a Higher National Certificate in Engineering at Coleg Menai’s Llangefni campus who studies Level 3 Professional Cookery at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus Both learners have been selected by WorldSkills UK following their success in national skills competitions Evan (pictured below) and Yuliia are both in the UK training squad preparing for Worldskills 2026 in Shanghai Following their participation at EuroSkills they will continue to compete for a place in Team UK for next year’s ‘Skills Olympics’ in China Having already been through months of competition and selection processes Evan and Yuliia (pictured below) now face the last crucial months of their intensive training programme for EuroSkills Herning 2025 It will also be a crucial litmus test to measure the UK’s readiness to compete on the global stage at WorldSkills 2026 WorldSkills UK uses its participation in EuroSkills to promote skills excellence across the UK and embed world-class training standards said: “We are so excited to be supporting and nurturing this fantastic group of young professionals as they head for Denmark to compete “They will be tested to the highest standards showcasing the skills that global employers are looking for and will return to the UK with the knowledge and experience that will turbo-charge their careers.” He added: “EuroSkills is ultimately a test of how internationally competitive UK skills are “It gives us the impetus to raise standards at home and help more young people get high-quality jobs.” Lifelong learning company Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for EuroSkills Herning 2025 and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024 Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications said: “We are incredibly proud to support this inspiring group of young people as they prepare for the EuroSkills challenge this year “Celebrating the best of technical and vocational education and raising the prestige of the sector is very important to us “I wish Team UK the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Denmark in September." LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports An export bar has been placed on a needlework sampler showing the Menai Bridge Designed by renowned engineer Thomas Telford the Menai Bridge connects Anglesey to mainland Wales it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time and cut the journey time to Holyhead boosting travel and tourism to the area while benefiting local industries depicts  the new bridge and boats crossing the Menai strait It was stitched by local school girl Mary Anne Hughes in the 1800s to mark the opening of the suspension bridge The opening of the Menai suspension bridge was a true feat of British engineering which has had long lasting benefits to local heritage as well as boosting tourism and the North Wales economy Mary’s wonderful needlework reflects the importance of the bridge and is a telling reminder that every child I hope a UK buyer can be found so this artwork can be used to inspire children to embrace their creativity and love their local area Mary Anne Hughes’s needlework picture of Menai Bridge in Anglesey is not only a testament to her individual skill and prodigious powers of concentration It is also a window into the world of early nineteenth century working class education and female accomplishment in Britain giving us a glimpse of a culture that has been largely lost to us and for which there are far too few traces modest treasure is of enduring interest and value and thoroughly deserves to be saved for the nation The RCEWA Committee found the needlework met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance to the study of social history within this area of Wales, and the importance of needlework within the education of young girls. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sampler should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk. Provenance: Previously owned by the Marquess of Anglesey and sold at Sotheby’s (11 April 2024, lot 82). The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an  independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for  Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. #comp-lvqlknop_r_comp-lwwdvtpl__item1 {aspect-ratio: 1;}The Plant BaseThe Plant Base is the go to B2B news platform for the plant-based food and beverage industry RefreshmentRefreshment is your ultimate resource for staying informed and up-to-date on the water cooler The Cell BaseThe Cell Base provides insights for professionals to stay informed exchange ideas and explore new cell-based opportunities SubscribeAccess more as a FoodBev subscriberSign up to FoodBev and unlock more insights from the international food and beverage industry. Subscribers have access to webinars, newsletters, publications and more... Pladis opens new MENAI headquarters in Jeddah Global snacking company Pladis has opened a new headquarters in Jeddah The site marks a milestone in Pladis' strategic growth and expansion in the Middle East Located in the Zahran Business Center in Jeddah the new office is equipped with new technology and was designed with a focus on sustainability North Africa and India managing director at Pladis explained how the new headquarters is a ‘pivotal step’ in Pladis' journey towards strengthening its presence in the MENAI region Pandey said: “This office embodies our commitment to investing in our people and our business collaborative space that will drive innovation and growth across our operations this new office will serve as the cornerstone of our regional strategy enabling us to better serve our customers and communities.” eight fully equipped meeting rooms and designated spaces designed to cater to the diverse needs of its employees The layout was designed to encourage formal and informal interactions with ‘high-end’ technology integrated throughout from high-definition CCTV systems and face recognition access controls to ultra-wide monitors and wireless presentation systems in meeting rooms Get in touchWould you like to be interviewed by FoodBev Media or share a recent innovation with us?  Click here to contact us The page you are looking for cannot be found You may have followed a broken or outdated link Picture by Chris LaneThe Menai Marketplace cafe which shocked the local community when it closed without warning will reopen tomorrow with a new name but familiar faces who with his business partner opened Cafe Vostro in 2011 and stayed on as manager after they sold the business has taken over the lease and will operate the cafe with the same staff Mr Dookhooah said he and the staff were "heartbroken" and as shocked as anyone when the owners walked out leaving machines running and food in cabinets Picture by Murray TrembathHe said the community response had been so great he had decided to reopen it and start over again "I will manage it and bring the whole crew back," he said "The community has given so much support.. "My mate and I came here in 2022 after running a place in the city," said Mr Dookhooah who has worked in hospitality in various parts of the world "When he decided to move to Queensland to see a new part of Australia Excellent progress has been made on works to restore the Menai Suspension Bridge The bridge will reopen on Saturday 2 November [00:01hrs] will be paused for four months (November 2024 – February 2025) to allow for the full reopening of the bridge The Cabinet Secretary Transport and North Wales “The completion of phase one works is great news and I want to place on record my thanks to everyone affected by the works “We’ve listened to the feedback from local communities and have decided to pause the start of phase two works to allow for the full reopening of the bridge over the winter period “But rest assured this delay will not affect the 200th anniversary of the bridge in January 2026.” Before the start of phase two works a period of communication will take place with the general public and stakeholders For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend High pressure brings further fine and settled weather this week Bank Holiday Monday promises to be a dry day across the country There will be a fair amount of cloud at times this morning with the sunniest weather developing this afternoon Patchy cloud will clear this evening leaving a sunny end to the day followed by a dry and generally clear night Under light winds a patchy rural frost is possible Another dry and settled day is on the cards on Tuesday Winds will be light and with plenty of strong sunshine developing it will begin to feel quite warm again The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating Dry across the UK at the start of this period with clear or sunny spells for the majority of places Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. A project to refurbish the historic Menai Suspension Bridge has scooped a prestigious accolade in a national industry award ceremony which recognises outstanding bridge projects in the UK. The project to permanently replace more than 160 defective hangers on the iconic crossing which connects the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales was honoured with the Bridges Award for New Life in the 2025 Bridges Awards. Organised by Bridge Engineering and Design Magazine, in partnership with Bridge Owners Forum, the awards took place at the Bridges Conference at the CBS Arena in Coventry, with the Bridges Award for New Life recognising an outstanding refurbishment, rehabilitation, reconstruction or repurposing project. Lead contractor Spencer Bridge Engineering scooped the award for its work to replace and paint 168 of the 208 wire rope hangers on the bridge, restoring the full structural integrity of the crossing and removing a critical risk to public safety. Completed in 1826, the Grade 1 listed structure provides a crucial road link between mainland Wales and the Isle of Anglesey and is the second oldest suspension bridge in the world still in use for vehicle traffic. In October 2022, the discovery of brittle hanger components resulted in the immediate and unplanned closure of the bridge, leading to a race against time to design and install emergency failsafes to allow reopening of the structure. This was successfully completed by Spencer Bridge Engineering in early 2023. Following the emergency works, Spencer Bridge’s teams were appointed to carry out the permanent replacement of the hangers on site to extremely tight tolerances and constraints, while maintaining live traffic throughout the project. To respect the heritage and historic features of the bridge, the team worked closely with the hanger supplier, Fatzer AG, to create hangers and bespoke sockets to match the existing profile, while adhering to modern design codes. Spencer Bridge Engineering Bridges Director Luke Fisher said: “We’re delighted to have been honoured with this award in recognition of our work to deliver such a pivotal project on this iconic bridge. “With strong winds, wet weather and extremely tight constraints, this project posed a number of significant challenges, but I’m very proud of our teams who worked collaboratively and drew on our colleagues’ extensive and diverse skillset to develop solutions. “As the bridge approaches its 200th anniversary next year, we’re proud to have played a key part in restoring this historic structure, so it can continue carrying traffic for many years to come.” The project was delivered on behalf of UK Highways A55 Ltd, with Spencer Group also working in collaboration with lead Designer COWI. The Bridges Awards judging panel for 2025 was chaired by José María Sánchez de Muniáin, Editor of Bridge Design and Engineering magazine, along with respected and independent bridge professionals from across the industry. “This is an example of true engineering in emergency, developing novel solutions to difficult challenges – protecting and improving functionality of an iconic bridge without closing it. “Ensuring the bridge is safe and then instigating installation of hangers in a trafficked environment is a huge achievement and the project was managed exemplary.” and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond The Menai Suspension Bridge in North Wales is set to fully reopen this Saturday following the completion of the first phase in its latest refurbishment programme Phase 1 of the works involved the replacement of all 168 hangers on the bridge ensuring it is ready for all forms of traffic once again the 1826 Thomas Telford-designed bridge is a critical connection in the region serving as a vital link across the Menai Strait between mainland Wales and the Isle of Anglesey It was closed in October 2022 for urgent repairs after it was revealed that there was potential for “unzipping failure” in its hangers, which could have “led to catastrophic loss of life”. Temporary hangers installed by Spencer Group allowed it to reopen in January 2023 with a weight limit of 7.5t while a permanent repair plan was designed Permanent restoration works by the Welsh Government’s regional roads operator UK Highways A55 commenced in September 2023 requiring lane closures and traffic management on the bridge Following the completion of Phase 1 of the restoration the strategic decision has been made to pause the commencement of Phase 2 of the refurbishment for four months which will include repainting among other tasks This pause is timed to coincide with the coming winter months allowing for the lift of the 7.5t weight restriction presently in place This decision to delay further work means that local traffic a period traditionally affected by more severe weather conditions The decision also provides a crucial alternative route when the Britannia Bridge (A55) is subject to closures which can be caused by high winds and other emergencies The suspension of Phase 2 works is viewed as beneficial from a logistical perspective Better weather conditions are expected to facilitate smoother operations once the work resumes this pause allows local businesses and events to reap the advantages of a fully operational bridge during the festive season it also enables Holyhead Port to remain operational for longer The 7.5t weight limit will be reinstated during Phase 2 of the works The refurbishment project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 in time for the celebration of the bridge’s 200th anniversary in January 2026 Cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: “The completion of Phase 1 works is great news “We’ve listened to the feedback from local communities and have decided to pause the start of Phase 2 works to allow for the full reopening of the bridge over the winter period Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. 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