After 16 years of continually serving up some of the finest tex-mex around, the guys behind Beach Burrito have refreshed the menu and brand with a whole stack of new items that we think will absolutely knock your socks off! The Beach Burrito team is super pleased to introduce their new head chef, Luis Zaleta. Born and raised in Mexico City, Luis has been a chef his entire life and worked at many other prestigious Mexican restaurants. Luis is the man behind the revamped menu, which is bursting with new flavours but still keeping some of the old signature dishes. One of the biggest favourites so far has been the birria dishes. The birria craze is just starting to take over Sydney; if you’re yet to try birria it is an absolute must! Slow cooked beef barbacoa with crispy fried cheese, served with the key ingredient — the side of warm birria consumé to dunk your tacos and burritos into. Despite the new menu, the guys always want to remain affordable for their amigos. Be sure to take advantage of the awesome weekly specials! Half priced tacos on Taco Tuesday $15 Birria and Beer combos on Thursdays HAPPY HOUR! Which runs from 4–6pm everyday with cheap tacos, $6 beer & sangria, $12 fresh margaritas, and kids-eat-free offers You can book a table or view the new menu online now via their website www.beachburritocompany.com or through the Beach Burrito Xtra Guac app, which offers $10 free credit for new users. See you soon, amigos! #feedingculture

By Ashie Luke Image credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto, cscredon Winter is already here, and the temperatures are continuing to drop. For those of you who own pets, this means some special preparations need to be made to ensure their safety and comfort. Whether you own a cat, dog, or any other pet, they should not be left out in the cold when it comes to enjoying the winter season. So, what should you do to keep your pets warm this winter? Warm coats and jumpers are essential to keeping your furry friends comfortable during the winter months. Go for practicality over style to ensure your pets are getting much needed warmth from their coats, especially if your pets are short haired or old. Coats with warming pads are especially beneficial for pets with arthritis as this will keep them extra comfortable in the cold. Not all pets will happily wear clothes as it is a strange concept for them. The best method is to slowly introduce wearing a coat or jumper and, if your pet is still not comfortable, it is best to not force it as there are other ways to keep them warm during winter. As their owner, you know your pet best and every pet has different preferences. If you struggle to bring your adventurous pet inside, make sure they have insulated shelter outside to keep them comfortable if they need it. A dog kennel must have a foam mat and blankets to ensure your dog is comfortable and retaining heat. Additionally, painting your kennel a dark colour and placing it where it’ll get the most sun will also help keep it warmer for your pet. For inside time, make sure your pet has a comfortable bed with an added heat source such as heating pads or a microwaveable wheat bag. Avoid electric blankets with wires or hot water bottles as your pet may chew through them. When taking your pet for a walk, if you can feel how cold it is, they definitely can too. Try to avoid long exposure to the cold and wet. If your pet does become wet outside, it is essential that your pet is properly dried off as this adds to their overall drop in body temperature and can result in matting or skin issues. If you are concerned about your pet not receiving enough exercise, playing with toys inside will not only keep them active but also get their temperature rising. As we said, you know your pet best and what makes them comfortable. It is important to keep a keener eye on your pets during the winter months. Look out for heat seeking behaviour and also consider if they could be overheating as well. If your pet has food and water and a comfortable spot to snuggle up with you then these cold months will not only be easy for them, but enjoyable too.

The Big Issue Foundation, Australia’s biggest social enterprise and best known for The Big Issue magazine sold by homeless street vendors, celebrated 25 years of its Australian publication in June 2021. Big Issue vendor Russell. Photo: Kerrod Trott/Wikimedia Upon reaching their quarter-century milestone, The Big Issue marked the occasion with a very special bumper birthday edition magazine - copies of which are still on sale. The 76-page commemorative edition celebrated 25 years of The Big Issue’s rich history, told through the eyes of its magazine vendors – those experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. Originally founded in 1991 in Britain by John Bird and Gordon Roddick, the latter the founder of The Body Shop (cruelty-free cosmetics), the magazine was initially published monthly but, in June 1993, The Big Issue went weekly and subsequently launched regional editions throughout the UK. In response to increasing global inequality and homelessness, The Big Issue expanded its operation worldwide to Australia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, South Korea, and Taiwan. To become a vendor, one must be homeless or almost homeless, vulnerably housed or marginalised in some way. Vendors earn a percentage of their sales. The Big Issue’s Australian edition was launched in Melbourne in 1996 and has since expanded to six states and territories with hundreds of vendors proudly donning the iconic Big Issue fluoro vest across the country every day. Over 800 vendors Australia-wide retail the magazine from street corners to shopping malls to transport hubs. Their backgrounds detail a wide range of unfortunate experiences that brought them to seek assistance. This includes homelessness, long-term unemployment, intellectual and physical disability, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown. Every vendor has a different story, but all are looking to improve their lives. Big Issue vendors have the opportunity to earn an immediate income and engage meaningfully with the community. They are proudly working selling a genuine product, which is why purchasers of the magazine are encouraged to read the magazine they buy, not just think of it as a receipt for charity. Since Australia’s first edition, more than 7000 vendors have sold 13 million copies of the magazine to a significant readership of over 250,000 people per year - putting $32 million into the pockets of those living on the margins. Steven Persson, CEO of The Big Issue Australia, said The Big Issue is an agent for social change, and it is more committed than ever to helping people build confidence and capacity to help themselves. “At its heart, The Big Issue is a community and together, we are in the business of taking people out of poverty,” he affirmed.” For 25 years, we have done just that.” “Our unique model not only provides opportunities for people to earn an income, but importantly, to build confidence and their capacity to help themselves. “The sense of pride, purpose and community inclusion that comes with proudly working as a Big Issue vendor can be life changing. We commend the thousands of vendors who have proudly made positive changes in their lives over the past 25 years.” Mr Persson thanked The Big Issue’s community of vendors, program participants, readers, supporters, partners, volunteers and staff for their commitment to making a difference. “You have stood alongside The Big Issue for 25 years and shown your dedication to alleviating poverty in our community. We thank you for showing faith in a unique model that provides positive, sustainable employment solutions for those who need it most,” he said. Mr Persson also encouraged the public to continue purchasing the magazine and particularly the commemorative edition. “On our birthday, our wish is that you continue supporting The Big Issue and our vendors – first and foremost, by picking up a copy of our commemorative 25th birthday magazine,” he said. Tune in to the 25 Years Big video online (see link below), which features a collection of stories and birthday messages from The Big Issue’s vendors, customers, partners, contributors and more, including a special birthday message from acclaimed Aussie singer Jimmy Barnes. 25th birthday celebration: https://thebigissue.org.au/25-years-big/ Online: www.thebigissue.org.au Subscriptions: https://thebigissue.org.au/our-programs/the-magazine/the-magazine-subscribe/ ==================================

Marrickville is fast becoming Sydney's mecca of Craft Beer, you can have your very own three-stop Brewery Tour without leaving the postcode. For those willing to go a little further (Enmore & St Peters) you can make it five-stops! Batch Brew Co - 44 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville batchbrewingco.com.au - 9550 5432 Founded in 2013 by Chris & Andrew, Batch Brew Co has a focus on unique, handcrafted, small batch beers. These guys brew and release new limited release beers regularly, and have a core line of top selling beers in bottle shops, pubs, online and in Batch’s two locations (Petersham and Marrickville) Marrickville is home to Batch’s original and main 10 bbl production brewery, with Small Batch nearby out the back of the Public House Petersham. Both venues are working breweries with tasting rooms offering tasting crates, bar service, and take away options, as well as food. Chris and Andrew have a huge passion for the local community, which drives them to continue to create top quality beers for YOU, the people in their community. As such, they’ve been creating approximately one new beer every five days since the commissioning of Small Batch - previous to that it was one new beer every ten days…. no small feat! That level of creativity is inspired and supported by suppliers with whom close relationships have been cultivated over the years. Sustainable and regenerative practices are central to all purchasing decisions ensuring the best quality materials end up in your glass. “We love what we do. We love beer. And that’s why We Brew For You!” Sauce Brewing Co - 1a Marrickville St, Marrickville sauce.beer - 8580 3555 Est. 2016 in Marrickville, Sauce Brewing Co are one of Australia’s most exciting Independent Craft Breweries. Sauce is all about big, bold flavours, creativity and diversity - there’s a drop of liquid gold that can suit any pallet! - hop-heads, sour-freaks, or someone that just likes good quality, drinkable ales. The Marrickville Brewery and Taproom is where it all started. Home to the production brewery, taproom - both complemented by the incredible outdoor beer garden, which is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday. With food trucks always in attendance, the beer garden is the ideal location to while away a sunny afternoon - or if it’s rainy, it will be enjoyable either way, with the quality beers on tap! Sauce is also open for takeaway everyday. The Grifter Brewing Co - 1/391 Enmore Road, Marrickville thegrifter.com.au - 9550 5742 With no other plan but to make good and honest beers, The Grifter Brewing Company began when Matt King, Glenn Wignall and Trent Evans set out to do just that in 2012. Proudly independent to this day, the guys have been steadily running their own race ever since. The original plan hasn’t changed either. From the far-out and fruit-driven to classic styles with a new world spin, every Grifter beer is made with best-quality hops, malts and sheer drinkability in mind. Simply: it’s got to be a beer before anything else, and there’s something in our tanks for anyone who wants to enjoy a classy one. The brewery and tasting bar, opposite Enmore Park in the heart of Marrickville, is where it all comes together. Housed in an old industrial dry cleaners warehouse, it captures the area’s eclectic spirit and the shared belief that community and collaboration can make great things happen. We also believe these things take good time – when you see our “orange goblin” pale ale tins and taste the good stuff inside, you’ll believe it too. That said, we’re in it for the long run. And for those willing to go a little further afield.. Hopsters Cooperative Brewery - 198 Enmore Rd, Enmore hopsters.coop Australia's first Cooperative brewery, with their taproom housed in an old fruit and veg shop on the bustling Enmore Rd. Run solely by a board of volunteers, a licensee who really knows his stuff, and an army of 750+ member shareholders, their mission is to brew member-driven beer whilst supporting indie breweries on one of their 12 taps. A great family vibe with a focus on community, the future looks bright! With 10% off beers, learn to brew classes and a never-ending calendar of social events, check them out here to see how to become a member. Willie the Boatman - 601/75 Mary St, St Peters willietheboatman.com.au - 8556 7528 When you were a lot younger than you are now, a fat dad from Tempe changed the world (probably). Somehow blessed with an extraordinary talent for creating beers that make jaws drop, Pat McInerney launched Willie the Boatman in 2012. Built with unhinged imagination, local mates, fierce independence and the finest ingredients, Willie is a brewery for true local characters. Inspired by the legend of a convict boatman, Pat proudly serves the community bloody great beers, wild yarns, and terrible love advice. Pop down and get some for yourself. And for those looking to take their Beer Obsessions beyond the Bar - The Hop and Grain store is a must visit! Hop and Grain Store - 50 Sydney St, Marrickville thehopandgrain.com.au - 9516 3008 Hop and Grain specialise in all grain brewing supplies, stocking a wide range of base malts and specialty malts, hops, pellets and yeast for the experienced brewer. Beginners are not forgotten either, with a range of malt extracts and beer kits. Hop and Grain are not limited to beer though, stocking ingredients and supplies for all sorts of fermentation hobbies. They also have a range of kombucha, distillation and wine-making equipment and consumables continues to grow. For the Masterchefs out there, there's a wide range of DIY food kits - including pickles, jam, cheese, butter, tofu and vegan kits. To top it off we have gift-ware, BBQ fuels, pickles and sauces to complement those social beer-appreciation sessions!

The inaugural King Street Carnival in Newtown, which grew out of the King Street Crawl (founded 2015), is taking place over the weekend of 11-13 March. Here we visit four venues that are co-hosting the musical extravaganza, to discover what's on offer. For events and tickets, visit https://kingstreetcarnival.com.au/ Kelly’s on King - Bootleggers (285 King St) Bootleggers, the newly rebranded and renovated band room of Kelly's has picked up quite the line-up for the King Street Carnival! You'll find some infectious, pop-indie numbers from Cronulla locals, Fripps & Fripps on the Friday night with supports from post-punk Canberran's, Sputnik Sweetheart, and local inner-west legends, GIRLY. Saturday will be host to an event by the Bodega Collective that is ever-growing in popularity and notoriety. Pass The Mic will showcase 15 up-and-coming hip hop and rap artists, each with 15-minute sets. To reign in your weekend, Sunday's line-up has the honey vocals of Georgia June and her band. Supporting her are the self-proclaimed 'groovy dream 70s style pop rock' surfers that are Tuppaware Party as well as 90's inspired indie-rock outfit, Jet City Sports Club. https://www.bootleggersnewtown.com.au/ The Courthouse (202 Australia St) In celebration of King Street Carnival, The Courty will have live DJ sets from 6pm on Friday, 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday. To help you really get into the party mood, we’ve got Cruisers buckets on offer – 5 Cruisers for $45! We’ll also have all our regular beers, wines and cocktails available, plus our full food menu so you can fuel up for a big weekend of partying. https://www.thecourty.com.au/ The Bank (324 King St) Dancefloors have returned just in time for King Street Carnival and The Bank Hotel will be welcoming a huge line-up of local acts to the stage for three nights of free shows across the festival weekend. C.O.F.F.I.N will be kicking off the festivities, headlining Friday night’s show with support from SCABZ, Dick Dudley and Private Wives. Heaps Gay will be taking over the entire venue on the Saturday night, with DJ's and performances throughout The Bank and Waywards kicking on until the early morning. They know how to throw a party and this one is going to be BIG! Dante Knows and The Trouble will be wrapping up the festival weekend at Waywards with support from Baby Beef, Ona Mota, Betty and Anieszka. The Bank Hotel is conveniently located smack bang between the Amphitheatre Stage and Camperdown Park stage and is right next to Newtown station, so be sure to make it one of your stops over the weekend for a schooner, a delicious feed from Avi’s Kantini and some live music. Did we mention it's all free? https://www.bankhotel.com.au/ The Marly (145 King St) By ELLA COLLINS, Venue Manager It’s our favourite time of the year, but this time we’ve got three times the fun and a whole bloody weekend to celebrate King Street and all forms of music in its glory! Dancing has finally returned and here at The Marly we have enlisted the help of our friends at Low Pressure and Picnic to help curate a huge weekend of quality music for the inaugural King Street Carnival. Kicking off the 3-day extravaganza, we have our Friday night event Low Pressure in the Main Bar with Peel and Misty Lanes Space Station. Picnic have programmed the line up for Tokyo Sing Song as we welcome two international acts in Anastasia Kristensen (DNK) & Elli Acula leading a limited capacity rave in Newtown’s favourite basement club. For Saturday night, Picnic have hand-picked a star studded line up paying homage to Sydney’s diverse electronic music scene for their three-level take over. Leading the charge on Saturday night is none other than Australia’s own Nina Las Vegas – one of the most influential figures in the Australian music scene, known for her time on Triple J and her brilliant record label NLV Records. Upstairs in Cuckoo, we’re honoured to welcome Trackwork into the fold, the Sydney-based record label exists as a platform for a unique, new wave of rap and innovative pop music. And guess what? FREE ENTRY to both levels, all, night, long. We have two more international guests in LCY (UK) & Halfqueen (NZ) who headline a good old-fashioned limited capacity rave in Tokyo Sing Song. Rounding off the weekend, taking over The Marly ground floor and Cuckoo, Low Pressure has curated a stacked line-up that pays homage to the ‘Crawl’ inviting some of the most exciting artists in the country to make some noise for you. We have a secret headliner to be revealed on the day headlining the main bar with Crocodylus, Towns, Eagle Eye Jones and Moody Beach all doing their thing. While upstairs in Cuckoo we have Party Dozen, 1300, Gauci and Anieszka making sure you will be dancing all day long. Every King Street Crawl has always been one to remember at The Marly and we can’t wait to take it up a notch with the amazing King Street Carnival three-day extravaganza. https://www.marlboroughhotel.com.au/ ====================

The King Street Crawl is relaunching as King Street Carnival, with more entertainment and venues showcasing the best of Sydney's Inner-West. Here we look at the history of this community celebration. Yothu Yindi are scheduled to appear at the 2022 inaugural King St Carnival. Photo: supplied The first King Street Crawl hit the streets in 2015 with a simple ambition: to work with the businesses of Newtown to put on a free day of live music, with the intent to create opportunities for musicians to perform and promote their music to new audiences and local businesses to benefit from increased foot traffic. The format was designed as one long musical crawl involving a multitude of different musos and venues along the way, with local businesses a core component of the event. By using live music as the common thread, ‘The Crawl’ was also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredibly diverse, accepting and creative community that has made this corner of Sydney renowned (both nationally and internationally) as a ‘must experience’ destination when visiting Sydney, and the most fertile breeding ground for artistic talent in the country. In 2019 the last King Street Crawl before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, consisted of: * 12,000+ in attendance * 700+ individual artists * 30+ participating venues Scabz hold the King St Crawl record of five sets at five venues in one day. Photo: Alec Smart History: from from a music crawl to a merry carnival 2015 The conception year of the Crawl included venues from St Peters to Sydney University, with more than 40 artists between them. Polish Club kicked off the revelries, Alex Cameron and City Calm Down headlined, and there were secret sets from The Preatures (at Waywards Brewery) and Sticky Fingers (at the Botany View). 2016 The Crawl expanded down Enmore and Erskineville Roads. Things got very loose at the Botany View for a secret Skegss set, whilst Rolling Blackouts C.F. and Middle Kids played on the same bill at the Marly. This year also included the Crawl’s first outdoor stage, The Hub. 2017 This year saw ​​150+ bands play across 25 venues. Stella Donnelly played one of her first-ever Sydney shows at the Waywards’ Vision Party and Private Function performed at Newtown Hotel. DZ Deathrays performed a huge secret set for the I Oh You party! 2018 Straight Arrows set the record for most sets played in one day at the Crawl; playing four shows at four venues in eight hours! Triple One & Andy Golledge Band closely tied for sweatiest sets in Crawl history and it was the first time international acts featured on the bill: The Beths (NZ) & Wax Chattels (NZ). 2019 Scabz beat Straight Arrows’s record with five sets at five venues across the day. Cosmic Psychos played a secret set under the name Slapper Jackson & The Esky Stackers; I Know Leopard and Pist Idiots announced last-minute pop-up shows and Crawl partnered with Fringe to bring live music to shopfronts and a range of eclectic non-traditional venues all around Newtown. English DJ and artist LCY appears at the 2022 event. Photo: supplied 2022 The King St Carnival is born! Over a three-day period from March 11-13, the festival will light up the Inner West, showcasing both well-known musicians and up-and-coming artists, while also celebrating local venues, creative communities, emerging artists, and the food and beverage scene. While the ticketed outdoor events were sadly cancelled due to heavy rainfall, there will still be a plethora of free music and entertainment on offer at participating venues on King Street, Enmore Road and Erskineville Road. Additionally, many of the artists who were scheduled to play on the outdoor stages have offered to move their shows to smaller indoor venues. These will now be ‘secret shows’ and announced online via email and social media on the day, adding an extra element of mystery and excitement to an already fantastic timetable. 2023 It’ll be huge... Coffin headline Friday night in The Bank Hotel at the 2022 event. Photo: Alec Smart ============================

By JESSICA BAHR Revellers at the Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney. Photo: Anna Kucera It’s time to dust off your brightest outfit, grab some glitter and get ready to boogie: Mardi Gras is back! On Saturday, March 5, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will once again be lit up by a dazzling celebration of pride and self-expression for the world-famous Parade, the centrepiece of Mardi Gras season. “For me, Mardi Gras is all about our community coming together, to reflect on our history, to showcase our talent, our culture and diversity, and to stand as one in support of those in our community who need us,” said Creative Director Travis Conneeley. “To me, this is what Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras helps facilitate… I simply love the Festival, respect the history and seeing our community together shining bright each year.” Each year, the iconic Parade both acts as a powerful protest and an electric celebration of a powerful and diverse community who come together to stand up for equal rights, showcase talent and demonstrate their passion. Sydney Mardi Gras Creative Director Travis Conneeley After a tough two years of events being constantly restructured, postponed, and even cancelled, for many members of the community the opportunity to come together is more important now than ever. “I think like last year, you'll see this in the energy of our community and in the appreciation of being able to connect and express ourselves again,” Travis said. “It's so important for us to come together like this, and recent events I feel have given us all a new appreciation for the festival.” While some events, such as the famous Party have sadly been cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the team has worked to ensure the festival is bigger and better than ever, while still being as safe as possible. This has included again hosting the Parade at the SCG rather than the traditional Oxford St, and postponing the glamorous Sissy Ball and pool parties until April. “While both the organisation and I can't wait for the Parade to be back on the street, being in the SCG does present some unique opportunities, particularly for a Creative Director,” Travis said. “I'm super excited about the night and can't wait for all our community to shine bright, in the stadium and broadcast across the nation and world.” Sissy Ball. Photo: Sydney Mardi Gras Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations have certainly come a long way from humble beginnings in 1978, when a small group of protestors formed to contribute to the international Gay Celebrations. The historic night became an iconic moment for both the LGBTQI+ community and Australia’s cultural heritage. In the years that followed, the event evolved into a world-famous celebration, and community members and allies began flocking to Sydney from interstate and overseas to partake. This year’s packed program has spanned across theatre, visual arts, parties, community gatherings, panel discussions and more, featuring a combination of regular favourites and exciting new additions. In 2022, the theme is ‘United We Shine’; a rallying call to stand up against hate and inequality, and a reminder that rising as a collective promotes a louder message of love and inclusion. “This can be demonstrated in our history, in how we come together each year, and in the opportunity that coming together brings us in achieving positive outcomes for all our community,” Travis said. “I encourage you all to connect with your beautifully diverse community, be open to meeting new people and hearing their stories and perspectives. Stand up for each other. Only together can we make the future brighter for all our community.” For more information about upcoming events including the popular Sissy Ball and pool parties, visit mardigras.org.au ============================

By ALEC SMART The Friend in Hand Hotel at 58 Cowper St Glebe has an unusual house guest who is a favourite among the regulars. Georgie the cockatoo has her own perch by the bar where she enjoys chatting with the locals and at night she roosts in the upstairs master bedroom. Bar manager Mark with Georgie the cheeky cockie. Photo: Alec Smart The sociable sulphur-crested cockatoo is very popular among the clientele and also appears on the bar’s logo, signage, Instagram and Facebook, and is featured in a large wall mural in the dining area of the hotel’s restaurant, the Fork In Hand Bistro. The upstairs bar/function room is also named after her. Georgina is 14 years old, and considering the expected lifespan of a domesticated sulphur-crested cockatoo is roughly between 20 to 40 years, Georgie could either be a teenager or middle-aged. However, this breed of cockatoo can live as long as humans - up to 70 years or more with good health and proper living conditions. Friend in Hand manager, Mitch Hunt (who in 2014 lost a bet on the outcome of a State of Origin rugby game and as a result had to watch the second match from the confines of Georgina’s cage!), confirmed the breed’s longevity. “I have heard that they can live to over a hundred!” Does Mitch think Georgie may be still be chatting with the Friend in Hand punters for another 50 years? “To me/us she is still just a baby and has many years left to live.” I met Charlie, allegedly Winston Churchill's ex-parrot, at a garden centre in Surrey, England, in 2005, still swearing at Hitler 40 years after her owner passed away! Does Georgie speak any cuss words and if the bar had a swear jar, would it be filled regularly? “No,” Mitch declared, “but if you are around she will say on the odd occasion “want a beer?” Or a good old Aussie “G’day mate!” Georgie first arrived at the Friend in Hand when she was two, but for nearly a decade everyone thought she was a he and called her George. That was until Monday 9 Oct 2017 when the much-loved cockatoo went missing. Friend in Hand Hotel, corner of Cowper and Broughton streets, Glebe. Photo: Alec Smart Avian abduction It was not the first time the friendly parrot had gone missing. Three years earlier, on the morning of Saturday 20 Sept 2014, she completely vanished. Although Georgie spends a considerable amount of time in the outdoors beer garden, and liaises with neighbourhood wild cockatoos, hotel owners Michael Byrne and his brother Peter searched the entire hotel premises with no success, and were perplexed as to the cockie’s whereabouts. “He's well trained and sometimes he would disappear and we would see him fly across the road or he would be playing with the wild birds outside,” Peter told the Daily Mail. The silence is what alerted them that something was really wrong. “He’s a bit of a character with a great personality. Georgie talks to everyone and the locals are always teaching him bad words to say,” Peter revealed, so it was out of character for the bird to hide quietly unless she was asleep. But when they replayed the hotel’s CCTV camera footage, a more sinister explanation was revealed. An unknown man, dressed in white T-shirt, jeans, white sneakers and a reversed green baseball cap, walked into the bar earlier and befriended the cockatoo. After half an hour of devotional attention to the affectionate avian, he seized his moment and stole Georgie, strolling out onto the street with her perched on his forearm. After a fruitless search driving around looking for the culprit with the kidnapped cockatoo, the Byrnes rang their local radio station and posted an appeal on Facebook. Phone calls soon started coming in and eventually, just before 1pm, the parrot pincher was spotted at Wentworth Park Greyhound Stadium, a mere 450 metres from the Friend in Hand, with Georgie on his hand. 'We confronted the bloke,” Peter revealed. “He was very calm and gave George back. I don't know why he took it. He didn't say why.” So, in Oct 2017, when Georgie went missing again, there were fears of another avian abduction. “We were in a panic running around the pub looking for the bird in every corner of the room,” Michael Byrne told Daily Telegraph. Eventually, a less alarming but initially implausible answer presented itself: George was laying an egg! “I stuck my head inside the log where he spends time,” Michael recalled, “and there it was nesting with an egg!” Michael at first thought the white object was a golf ball placed there by a prankster, but eventually it was confirmed that he was a she – and so George was renamed Georgina (Georgie). This identity interchange is not the first time a cockatoo at the Friend in Hand has hoodwinked its human hosts. A previous ‘male’ resident, Joe, was later found to be female and her name changed to Josephine. “That is correct,” Mitch confirmed, “before Georgie was Josephine (Jo).” Is there perhaps something in the hotel’s liquid refreshments that contributes to this sex-swapping? Have they experienced similar gender-bending with human customers? “It could be the beer, it could just be the magic of the Friend In Hand!” Mitch considered. “In the inner west you get all the best walks of life, so any sexual orientation they are, they’re more than welcome to be themselves inside our walls.” Bar manager Mark with Georgie the cheeky cockie. Photo: Alec Smart In June 2019 the Byrnes sold the hotel to former Wallabies front rower Bill Young. Ironically, the Young clan were previous owners of the Friend in Hand, and had themselves sold it to the Byrne family 36 years earlier. Georgie stayed behind and settled in with the new owners the Youngs (who, incidentally, own several other hotels, including the historic Wisemans Ferry Inn). Has Georgie any distinguishing personality traits? “She is cheeky as they come,” Mitch revealed. “Better watch the steak on your plate or the patty in your burger!” When I visited the hotel to meet Georgie, Mark the barman told me an amusing food anecdote. “One time Georgie saw an abandoned plate with leftover spaghetti bolognaise, so she dived in for a meal. Later I had to clean her but the tomato sauce stained her feathers pink, so she resembled a galah!” The Friend in Hand, situated on the corner of Cowper and Broughton Streets in Glebe, is one of Sydney’s oldest licensed venues. It has been a watering hole and hotel since it was licensed to trade on 1 July 1857, serving the labourers and stevedores of the nearby wool warehouses, foundries, docks and sandstone quarries. Friend In Hand Hotel 58 Cowper St. Glebe 2037 Web: https://www.friendinhand.com.au/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/thefriendinhand Insta: https://www.instagram.com/friendinhandhotel/ Ph: 02 9660 2326 ========================================== Cockatoo facts * A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. * Among the largest (and noisiest!) of the parrot family, cockatoos share many features with true parrots, including a curved beak, a moveable crest, and ‘zygodactyl’ feet (with two forward-facing middle toes and two backwards-facing outer toes, to better grip onto branches). * Whilst most humans are right-handed, most cockatoos are left-footed. * The word ‘cockatoo’ is derived from the Dutch kaketoe, which came from the Malay kakaktua in the 17th century. * Cockatoos’ diet consists of fruit, flowers, seeds, tubers, corms and insects and they often feed in large flocks, particularly on the ground, when there’s safety in numbers. In October 2021, Young Hotels launched a social media campaign titled ‘Don’t Forget the Birds’, featuring six T-shirts, each with birds from their respective hotels. Among them, Wisemans Ferry has two ducks, Hotel Concord a magpie, and Palace Hotel a fairy wren. The Friend in Hand, of course, features a cockatoo. ======================================

The remarkable true story of Sydney's most haunting unsolved murder investigation, where human bones discovered beneath a Glebe garage left police with more questions than answers. By Elliot Lindsay A squad of detectives arrived at Westmoreland Lane, Glebe, on August 1st, 1923. The dark old laneway led to a dilapidated garage behind a terrace that still stands on the corner of Catherine and Westmoreland Streets today. They believed the garage harboured the answer to a grim mystery that had captivated the Australian public and puzzled law enforcement for the previous ten months. The floor was made of heavy old flagstones from the century prior. The detectives observed that some showed signs of recently being re-positioned. Using crowbars, they lifted these stones and dug into the soil beneath. At a depth of a meter, the search was finally over. Lying in a mixture of lime and clay were white bones and clumps of blonde hair. Disturbing Letters About Murder An anonymous letter was received by Sydney Police in mid-October 1922. It informed them of a woman who died in Coogee and was secretly placed in a small trunk transported to a shed on a narrow laneway and buried within. This enigmatic letter puzzled police, who spent months determining who had been killed and where she was buried. Perhaps it was just a prank? Sydney Police July 1923 mugshot of murder suspect Ellen Kreigher The following June, NSW Police received correspondence from Scotland Yard. A man in England was concerned his daughter, Gertrude Mabel Heaydon, may have been killed by her Australian husband, whom she met in England during the war. His family received a letter from Gertrude dated September 21st, 1922. She confessed to being three months pregnant and was planning to have an abortion against the wishes of her husband’s family. This was the last letter they received from her for several months until another letter arrived in March the following year. However, it was not from Gertrude. Instead, it was from her husband, Alfred. He wrote to inform them that Gertrude had passed away from a heart condition in January. The letter disturbed them as it seemed emotionless. Furthermore, Gertrude was only twenty-seven and in good shape; hence, they were not convinced. With this tip from England, NSW Police opened an investigation into Gertrude’s whereabout as there were no formal records of her death. They interviewed her husband, Alfred Heaydon, as well as their neighbours. With every interview, they made more light shine on the mystery. Finally, it became apparent that Gertrude did not die of a heart condition. This was just an alibi for something much darker. Gertrude Heaydon, the murder victim, whose severed arm was found in a Glebe garage Getrude Heaydon Last Seen The last time Gertrude was seen alive, she was in a Coogee apartment. The date was determined to be September 1922, one month before police received the anonymous letter which mentioned a dead woman in Coogee. Detectives were now confident that this was the very same woman. Initially, Heaydon made a statement to detectives that his wife had left him, unaware they had his letters. However, realising they knew more than they let on, he changed his statement and came clean. The last time he saw his wife, she went to an illegal abortion clinic in Coogee. She never returned because she died during the procedure. When asked why he did not report it to the police, he explained that the abortionist and her husband were dangerous criminals and threatened him with violence. They then organised for Gertrude’s body to be secretly taken away and disposed of, but he claimed not to know where. As the investigation preceded, police managed to identify a wagon driver employed to pick up some trunks from the same address in Coogee and transport them to a shed in Surry Hills. However, he arrived late and saw another wagon carrying the load. Unfortunately for the police, he didn’t have an exact address. Suspects Arrested Four suspects were arrested. Alfred Heaydon, Ellen Kreigher, Frank Taylor ­– whose wife had operated on Gertrude - and an associate of Taylor called Edward Riley. Unfortunately, however, the key suspect, Mary Taylor, who performed the procedure, had died in February. Detectives did not interview her, leaving a large hole in the investigation. Alfred Heaydon, the murder victim's husband and a prime suspect in her disappearance Nonetheless, police moved forward with their charges. They stated that Mary Taylor had murdered Gertrude Mabel Heaydon in Coogee. She, Frank and Edward employed a team of hardened criminals to dispose of the body. Heaydon aided by commissioning the procedure. Though without Mary, the four suspects could only be charged for the crime of concealing a serious offence. Meanwhile, no effort was spared to locate the mysterious shed, but all leads led nowhere regardless of action. Without the body, the case was doomed. The garage James Murphy was a career criminal and associate of Frank Taylor and Edward Riley. In October 1922, the three men were at a billiards saloon in Haymarket. Taylor told the men he required a place to hide stolen property. Riley said he had a garage and later took them all to a dark laneway in Glebe, where the garage was located. It was perfect, and Taylor had his cargo delivered there that week. The following week the same men were caught house-breaking and sentenced to five years in Darlinghurst prison. Being an associate of Taylor’s, detectives interviewed Murphy to determine what he knew. While in prison, Murphy learned about Mary Taylor killing a girl and disposing of the body. Perhaps aiming to seek a reduced sentence, he decided to tell police everything he knew about the dead girl and the garage he visited on Westmoreland Lane in Glebe. A century later: the terrace on the corner of Catherine and Westmoreland Streets, Glebe Glebe Bones Mystery Continues When the Glebe Bones Mystery started when the first bone was discovered, police were confident they had the vital evidence to solidify their case. Yet that confidence faded after only eleven arm bones were revealed. It appeared they had been beaten to the scene. The rest of the body had been exhumed and relocated before they arrived. With only an arm, it was impossible to determine the identity of the remains. The new evidence was still enough to start a Coroner’s Inquest, which lasted several weeks and was covered extensively in the press. The coroner finally concluded that the bones were Gertrude’s. She had been murdered by Mary Taylor, and Alfred Heaydon had aided and abetted her commissioning the crime. Accordingly, the coroner recommended Heaydon face a trial. But the law has its limits. After reviewing the coroner’s decision, the NSW Attorney-General decided there was still not enough evidence to prove the bones were Gertrude’s remains. As a result, the charges against all the suspects were dropped. Thirty-nine years later, Gertrude’s body has never recovered, and the case remains cold. However, what if Gertrude’s remains had been found in the decades since? Would authorities even know to look for a case in the 1920s? There are two hundred and fifty unidentified skeletons stored in the Glebe morgue today. It is perhaps possible that one may be the missing remains of Gertrude Mabel Heaydon. Make sure to read the next issue of 2037 as we report on the Glebe morgue and the results of our investigation. -------------------------- Elliot Lindsay hosts Murders Most Foul, Sydney’s True Crime Walking Tours. Insta: https://www.instagram.com/murdersmostfoul/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070235298375 ====================================================

Christmas is a stressful time for many, whether you’re hosting the whole extended family or just a few select guests. Seafood is a staple of Australian Christmas tables, but often the huge variety available can become overwhelming. Then we find ourselves leaving Sydney Fish Market on Christmas Eve with the same old prawns and oyster combo that we always get. With this comprehensive guide to planning your Christmas lunch or dinner, we’re here to help you create the varied, innovative, and impressive seafood spread you’ve always dreamed about for your Christmas table. All of these tips can be adapted to suit the size of your gathering, your budget, and your personal preferences. And remember, when in doubt, you can always check out the huge variety of seafood recipes on our website for inspiration! How Much Seafood to Buy The first step to planning the perfect Christmas spread is determining exactly how much food you will need. It’s always better to have too much than too little, but you don’t want to have huge amounts of wastage after your guests head home. This handy guide gives you a cheat-sheet to determine exactly how much seafood you’ll need per person: Remember to bring an esky along with you on your Christmas trip to Sydney Fish Market, and ask the fishmonger to pack some ice with your purchase, to keep it fresh on the journey home. Then, store everything in the coldest part of your fridge. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to eat your seafood immediately. Most seafood species will keep for 3-5 days in the right conditions, so don’t stress too much about it going bad. When in doubt, ask your fishmonger how best to store the species you’ve chosen, or check out the storage FAQ’s on our website. What Seafood to Buy Once you’ve planned out how much food you’ll need for your guests, it’s time to decide what exactly you’re going to buy. We recommend thinking about species first, recipes second. This allows you to address two key areas: Budget If you’re willing to splash out for the special occasion, your options are endless. We recommend buying from a variety of different seafood categories to really make your seafood spread shine: get a crustacean (Rock Lobster, Bugs, or Crab are great choices); a whole fish for a fantastic centrepiece or some fillets for the main course; some bivalves (scallops, mussels, or the crowd favourite – oysters); some prawns of course; and some octopus or squid. The variety will impress any guest, especially if you cook them in different ways. If you’re working with a tighter budget, we recommend trying some species you haven’t heard of before. The prices of fish like Snapper, Atlantic Salmon, and Barramundi go up slightly around Christmas time in response to demand, while lesser-known species (that are just as delicious), are readily available and significantly cheaper. So, instead of Snapper, try some Bream or Perch. Replace your Atlantic Salmon with Ocean or Rainbow Trout. Try some Ling or Mulloway instead of Barramundi. Again, if in doubt, ask your fishmonger what is good quality and in-season – they’ll even tell you how to cook it! Hot and Cold Elements The perfect seafood spread has to be well-balanced, not only in flavour, but in temperature. Too many hot dishes will overwhelm your guests, especially in the height of summer, but too many cold dishes lower the satisfaction factor. We recommend spreading your dishes evenly across hot and cold… Picking two from each of the below lists is a great start: Hot Seafood Dishes Char-Grilled Salmon Kebabs and Vegetables with Lime Mayo Mulloway Cutlets Baked with Lemon and Rosemary Barbecued Bonito with Tomato, Fennel, and Capers Rock Lobster Thermidor Barbecued Lemongrass Rock Lobsters with Cucumber & Carrot Salad Crumbed King George Whiting with Baked Chips Barbecued Chermoula Prawns with Chickpea Salad Seared Tuna with Salsa Verde Cold Seafood Dishes Prawns with Mango and Chilli Dipping Sauce Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters Tuna Tartare Cold-smoked Ocean Trout Flatbread Rolls Swordfish Crudo Snapper Tartare with Ruby Grapefruit Cold-smoked Salmon with Dill Crème Fraiche Oysters with Shallot Vinaigrette Cocktail Abalone with Asian Dressing How to Create a Star Centrepiece Nothing takes a Christmas seafood spread to the next level quite like a star centrepiece. There are a few options in this category that are certain to impress your guests. A whole fish is a budget-friendly option that is far easier to achieve than you think. Whole fish are significantly cheaper than fillets, and look incredible on the table. You can steam, deep-fry, bake, or BBQ a whole fish easily, and then all your guests have to do is serve themselves, pulling off a section of meat from the bone with their knife and fork. Some of our favourite whole fish recipes are: Whole Threadfin Bream Baked with Oregano and Chilli Whole Poached Salmon with Cucumber Salad Deep-fried Whole Black Pomfret with Lime and Chilli Dressing Steamed Whole Ocean Perch with Ginger and Soy Whole Morwong Barbecued in Banana Leaves If a whole fish isn’t your thing, some other options for a centrepiece include a large Eastern Rock Lobster (you can either serve it Thermidor or from the BBQ), some assorted crustaceans baked in garlic (like in this recipe), a homemade sushi platter (as described here), or a large squid (stuffed like in this recipe looks particularly impressive). Salads and Sides The final thing to consider for a stellar Christmas spread is all the extras. Salads and sides are easy and quick to assemble, but are often an afterthought. These salad recipes are sure to be just as impressive as your mains, with their own unique flavours to offer: Vietnamese Salad with Yellowfin Bream Rock Lobster and Herb Salad with Asian Dressing Rock Lobster Salad with Radish, Orange, and Mint Prawn Cocktail Prawn Salad with Chilli, Cucumber, and Watercress Crab and Green Mango Salad Warm Asian Squid Salad Salad of Cuttlefish, Tomato, and Sweet Sour Onions Having a selection of simple sides also makes for a decadent and exciting gathering, whether you serve them as appetisers before the main event, or scatter them about a large table for everyone to pick at as they go. Some of our favourite smaller seafood snacks are: Deep-fried Chilli Salt School Prawns Squid and Fennel Bruschetta Oysters with Wasabi Dressing Cold-smoked Salmon with Dill Crème Fraiche Crab and Herb Sandwiches Prawn Satay Patagonian Toothfish Skewers with Wasabi Mayonnaise Barbecued Coriander and Pepper Prawns Pan-fried Australian Sardines Spanish Tuna Meatballs Eat up! Remember, a seafood spread doesn’t have to be expensive to be impressive – plenty of Australian species come into their prime around Christmas and are exceedingly cheap. Depending on how many guests you’re hosting, all you really need is two hot dishes, two cold, one impressive centrepiece, and a few easy sides. Once you’ve combined these elements, you’ll find yourself with a stunning, restaurant-quality seafood feast that your Christmas guests will adore.

Providing healthy nutritious meals and a range of human services to the homeless, destitute, impoverished and underprivileged people. One Meal – It Makes a Difference is a not-for-profit, community organisation that helps to feed, clothe and support the homeless, disenfranchised, vulnerable and at-risk members of our local communities. One Meal was founded in December 2014 when a group of friends came together to give back to the community with a one-off street service at Green Park in Sydney, providing a meal to people in need at Christmas. A month later they were back again, and One Meal – It Makes a Difference was born. One Meal now provides hundreds of meals to people in need every week. Regular weekly community meals serve up delicious hot dinners for over 500 patrons across Sydney, including Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown (Kingsgrove and Riverwood), Sydney City (Darlinghurst and Surry Hills), Northern Beaches (Manly and Narraweena), and Sutherland Shire (Cronulla, Miranda and Sutherland). During the COVID-19 lockdown, many charities had to stop operations due to social distancing protocols and risk. One Meal, however, was able to implement new processes and keep services going to the community who were more in need than ever before, because of the lockdown. The demand for food relief services continues to grow, highlighting Sydney’s “hidden hunger crisis” – where people going without proper food are not just the homeless or unemployed, but increasingly ‘ordinary’ people whose situation dramatically changes. These changes are often due to illness, death of a breadwinner, family breakup and/or fleeing domestic violence, and the abandoned or isolated elderly. Those needing help can also include people who struggle to access support services due to personal challenges, such as restricted mobility, mental health (including anxiety - e.g. agoraphobia), challenging family situations (incl. DV fears), physical limitations, isolation, communication/language/culture barriers, and many other challenges. Local communities can get involved by: Providing cooked meals, breakfast items or food to the service each week. Volunteering at a service for a few hours on a Saturday night in Darlinghurst or Surry Hills and serving food. Different locations have services on different nights. Donations of clothing, blankets and canned foods are always welcome. Help fundraise for One Meal. W: www.onemeal.org.au/ FB: @onemeal14 IN: @onemeal14

Nova is a 4 month old Koolie Mix living in Caringbah South, Sydney with her Mum, Dad and Poppy. She is a blue eyed, merle coloured pup with a huge appetite and a need for playing, chasing & cuddles! She brings so much love & laughter to everyone she comes across! She loves cuddling her bunny and following her family around like a happy bouncy shadow! Her floppy ears and weird way of sitting puts a smile on everyone’s face! Nacho