A range of celebratory activities have been planned to celebrate the Sesquicentenary year of Woollahra Council, including a commemorative Council meeting on 7 June. Members of the community are invited to participate in the events listed below:

Images of the past

Woollahra Council’s Local History Centre staff have compiled an exhibition of images and memorabilia from the formative years. The Marking our local milestones: Woollahra celebrates 150 years exhibition will be on display in Council’s Customer Service Centre during Heritage Week from April 9 to April 24, open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm. A copy of the first Municipal map of the municipality (1860) will be on display.

Free walk and talk

The Woollahra History and Heritage Society will host a free local history walk on Sunday July 11 from the Goethe Institut, past the site of the Iron House in Edgecliff and on to Redleaf, the current Council Chambers. For more information and to register your interest call 9391 7141 by 20 May.

Youth Photographic Awards

Woollahra Council invites local students to enter the Woollahra Youth Photographic Award and Short Film Prize. This year the Open Secondary photographic section theme is titled Our History and is dedicated to Woollahra Council’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Winners will be awarded cash prizes for First Prize, Highly Commended and Commended. The winner of the Wentworth Courier People’s Choice award will be presented with a $300 prize.

With $2250 worth of cash prizes on offer, students who live in the Woollahra Municipality or attend school in Woollahra or nearby areas are invited to enter their works in one or more of the following categories:

• Open Secondary (Years 7 – 12) can enter B&W/Colour photographs with the theme of ‘Our History’
• Senior Secondary (Years 10 – 12) can enter B&W/Colour photographs
• Junior Secondary (Years 7 – 9) can enter B&W/Colour photographs
• Short Film Prize – both Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary students are invited to enter films no longer than 6 minutes in length.

Entries close 18 August.

Free concert Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra

On Sunday 6 June the Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra invites local residents to a public performance, Chamber Proms V: Sesquicentenary Schubert from 5.00pm –7.00pm.

The musical program featured in chamber style will include Musical Moment No. 3 in F minor, Variations on Trockne Blumen,  Impromptu in Eb major, Piano Trio Adagio in Eb “Notturno”, Piano Quintet in A major, Octet in F major Lieder.

Tickets are by donation of $20 and are available from Stevie Whitmont on 9363 1154.