Local News – 275

Marrickville Citizens of the Year

At an Australia Day ceremony held at Enmore Park, Marrickville Council has announced their 2016 Citizen, Senior Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year.
Recipient of Citizen of the Year is long-time Marrickville resident, Tamra Palmer who has been recognised for her volunteer efforts and leadership, working with children in the local community. She is particularly involved with the Summer Hills Lakers Netball Club, where as president she has helped to provide recreational opportunities for around 170 young women.

Tamra says Marrickville Council’s recognition is important in encouraging people to become involved in the community. “You never do voluntary work to be awarded things,” she says. “But I am honoured to be the Citizen of the Year and hope the recognition motivates others to get involved in the community in some way too.”

Tamra will continue to support sport and recreation opportunities for girls and women but is also involved in a newly funded kitchen garden and mural project at Burwood Girls High school. “It’s exciting as it’s a first for the school,” she says.

Local NSW Police Force Volunteer, Jim Skuthorpe, has been awarded the Senior Citizen of the Year for his decade long service to the community. Xanthe Sini has been named Young Citizen of the Year for volunteering her time to assist asylum seekers, through working in a food bank. According to Jennifer Tracey from Newtown’s Asylum Seekers Centre, Xanthe is always eager to jump in and help in any way she can.


 

Ungar’s Shoes to Close After 66 Years

Leichardt institution Ungar’s Shoes is set to close after 66 years of operating following the decision of long-time owner and manager, Gary Ungar, to retire.

Ungar’s Shoes has been serving the local community continually since 1948, when Mr Ungar Senior opened the first store on Parramatta Road. Since then the business, which moved to MarketPlace, Leichardt in 1992, has been continued to be family owned and operated. Gary Ungar, son of the original Ungar, has personally managed the store for 43 years.

The closing date for Ungar’s Shoes will be March 2016, with normal trading until then. Currently, the store is holding a sale with 10-70 per cent off storewide and 20 per cent off Back to School specials.


 

Victoria Road Precinct Proposal

Marrickville Community Planning Collective, MAGIC, is calling for concerned residents to write to the Minister of Planning and take a stand against the Victoria Road Precinct proposal. The call comes after Marrickville Council voted to support the proposal, which targets the area along Victoria Road, between Sydenham Road and Enmore Park.

This is the second attempt at a redevelopment, after community opposition halted the first proposal in 2014. The Collective claims that the new proposal would negatively affect the character of the community due to the end of local live music, displacement of low- income renters, artists and musicians and by setting a precedent to rezone nearby areas of Marrickville.

The planning team believe that the rezoning of the precinct will allow for significant improvements to the public domain, new residential communities and increased employment opportunities.

For further information or to sign the petition visit ‘MAGIC Marrickville Community Planning Collective’ on Facebook or see victoriaroadprecinct.com.


 

Local Celebs Dance Battle

Last weekend local celebrities Yukino McHugh of So You Think You Can Dance and The Voice Kids Trinity Young took to the stage to battle it out for the title of ‘Best Celebrity Dancer in the Inner West’.

The celebrity dance off took place as part of the Open Day for Nikki Webster’s Leichardt dance studio, and it was free and open to the community. In addition to the celebrity battle round, the studio also hosted a Battle of the Dancers competition, which was open to local dancers and boasted a first prize valued at over $5,000.

10-year-old Trinity took out the title, despite her greater passion for singing over dancing, having appeared on the 2014 season of The Voice Kids as a Team Madden contestant. The studio caters to children and teens of all ages, with classes in everything from RAD ballet to acrobatic and circus.

For further information visit www.dancenikkiwebster.com.au.