Pam’s Café

The Crag welcomes the new owners of Pam’s Café, Lisa and Cornel Chow, to our community. Lisa and Cornel formerly operated a café business in Smith Street in the East Chatswood industrial area, which they sold three years ago to take a break and be full-time parents to their three children. They have lived in Middle Cove for 18 years and love the area because of its strong sense of community. In their new venture at Castlecrag they hope to build on the friendships they have established in the area and foster new ones. Patrons at the café will notice that it is business at usual at Pam’s with the same staff still providing efficient and friendly service.

Big Morning Tea

The Castlecrag ladies committee for the ‘Big Morning Tea’ held on 22 May wish to thank the Castlecrag community for their most generous support in our fundraising efforts for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The tea was a great success, with over $1500 raised for the foundation. We thank all the wonderful Castlecrag friends and neighbours who came to the event with all the cakes and biscuits – we appreciate your support, time and company!
The committee – Jill Moffatt, Diedre Phoon, Gloreen Goldin and Jennifer Kos – also extend their thanks to the following Castlecrag businesses for their most generous support in our fundraising efforts : LJ Hooker, Richardson & Wrench, Dr R Barratt, Castlecrag Post Office, Swimaster Pool Shop, TravelPlan, Castlecrag Meats, Ganache Patisserie, Sydney Butcher Boys, Gourmet Source, Burley’s Restaurant, Clipso, Vald’arno and Martha’s Restaurant.

Jennifer Kos

Honours for Castlecrag residents

Congratulations to Professor Geoffrey Duggin who was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to renal medicine and toxicology in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year. Professor Duggin was honoured for his medical work as a clinician and researcher, and for more than 30 years of work for professional associations. He founded the toxicology unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1980 and headed the unit until 2007. He also worked as a senior renal physician at RPA Hospital for more than 30 years.
We also report that Harold Spies has been inducted into the Allen Strom Hall of Fame where his name will be inscribed on a shield and on permanent display. The award was established by the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) in memory of the late Al len Strom’s untiring dedication to conservation and education in New South Wales. Nominees for this award need to have made a constant and invaluable contribution to the environment over a number of years and to have displayed qualities of integrity, reliability and commitment. Harold has been actively involved in conservation matters in Castlecrag and Willoughby for over 25 years, as a member and President of the Castlecrag Conservation Society (CCS), a member of the Willoughby Environmental Protection Association (WEPA) and until last year a member of WEPA’s Sugarloaf Bush Regeneration Team; in addition he has been a tireless campaigner in many local environmental issues.

Sally’s Bookshop

As residents will be aware, Sally’s Bookshop closed on 30 June. The Castlecrag community is the poorer that our little shopping centre was unable to sustain a viable book-selling business Sally has moved to a new home at Taree where her mother is busy implementing plans for her new life! I am sure all Castlecrag residents will join the Progress Association in wishing Sally all the best in her future adventures.

Chamber of Commerce

Further to our report in the April issue of The Crag, the committee of the Northbridge & Castlecrag Chamber of Commerce is proceeding with incorporation of the new organisation. The purpose of the Chamber is to promote the local business districts of Northbridge and Castlecrag and to champion the interest of its members to key stakeholders, particularly local government. A contact database of 141 business in Northbridge and 53 in Castlecrag has been drawn up and membership promotional material is being developed for distribution to these organisations. Further information about the Chamber can be obtained from Marko Delatovic at the Northbridge Golf Club, phone 9958 6900.

Climate Change forum

On 29 May Gladys Berejiklian MP arranged a public forum at the Dougherty Community Centre at which Ms Louise Wilson, a local resident, writer and lecturer at UTS, presented an information session on ‘Sustainability and Culture Change’ covering such topics as the science, the evidence, and the impact of climate change. Louise had been trained by former US Vice President, Al Gore as a ‘climate change messenger’. The presentation was followed by questions from the audience and discussion on various related matters.

Kidz Club

Building on the success of the January Children’s Holiday Club held at St John’s Church under the auspices of the Anglican Parish of East Willoughby (St James, Castlecrag and St Johns, East Willoughby), the July Club held on 10 and 11 July was attended by an increased number of children (44 on one day and 39 on the other). Pastoral Assistant Richard Sercombe and volunteers from both churches plan to hold another club in January 2009.