Message from the Mayor 24 May 2023

Thanking our volunteers

It was an absolute pleasure for Woollahra councillors and staff to hold a special morning tea on 16 May to say thank you to the more than 170 volunteers who give their time and skills to council programs like Bushcare and HarbourCare and Woollahra Libraries and Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, as part of Volunteer Week.

Thank you to Deputy Mayor Isabelle Shapiro for hosting a beautiful celebration of the amazing contribution our volunteers make to our community, and also to the Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra which provided wonderful musical accompaniment.

You are welcome to join our volunteer team, see more details.

Volunteers and staff at our special morning tea

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week begins this Saturday 27 May and is a great opportunity for all Australians to learn about the rich culture and history of the First Australians, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia and help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

As part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, we have worked with Reconciliation Australia on a Reconciliation Action Plan for Council, and recently adopted the Woollahra Aboriginal Heritage Study in consultation with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council.

With the help of the Gujaga Foundation, we have also introduced classes at Woollahra Preschool which give children the opportunity to learn the Dharawal language.

Our Woollahra Libraries team is hosting a series of events including Indigenous Story Time and Craft sessions, and has also put together a special Reconciliation Week-themed collection of books to borrow from our collection.

See the full program.

Rate your suburb

We want to know how you rate your neighbourhood, what you love about it and also what you’d like to change. Whether it's more shops, parking, or access to green spaces, your feedback will help us prioritise planning, guide decision-making and also contribute to national research regarding liveability, via the 2023 Australian Liveability Census.

I encourage you to complete a short online survey before the Census closes on 30 June, which also gives you the chance to win a $100 voucher.

Complete the short survey.