Located on the Corner of Bedford Street and Station Street, you may have noticed a community pantry, It's called the Newtown Blessing Box. More on Newtown It was the inspiration of Maureen Lee, who came up with the idea to make a gender-neutral community food pantry where the locals could “take what they need and give what they can. In its simplest form it is a cupboard with shelves. What’s special about it is that its true value comes from how it resonates with the community who bring it to life. In essence, it is a reflection of love, abundance, sharing, kindness, awareness, openness, connection and the heart of the inner west. The Blessing Box turns 1 year old on March 25. Since its start up, the Blessing Box has been hugely popular with not only locals contributing and benefiting but also restaurant owners, families with loved ones at RPAH, RPAH nurses, local businesses, families and friends from around Australia, students, volunteers, local politicians, NSW Parliament members, journalists, artists, bloggers and even visitors from overseas. In Maureen’s view, the response has been more powerful than she could have imagined. The community spirit and generosity that has been nurtured at the Newtown Blessing Box is phenomenal and has gone beyond just food donations, it has also boosted community morale and a sense of connection. In fact, Maureen goes so far as to suggest that the Newtown Blessing Box has become part of the “essential exercise” routine for many people, who pass by to smile, connect and read the messages of hope left by others. She says “...the mental health benefits of community belonging, connectivity and feeling as if the community has your back has been beautiful to witness during such a difficult and lonely time for so many.“ The Blessing Box is a true blessing and if you are in the area and would like to contribute or could benefit from it, be sure to drop by. FB: facebook.com/groups/227975801907230/ Insta: instagram.com/newtownblessingbox/

The award-winning New Theatre at 542 King Street, Newtown, has an interesting history and is among Australia’s longest continually-running live theatres, staging over 550 productions. More on Newtown By ALEC SMART New Theatre publicist Alice Livingstone explained, “We usually host around six to eight productions a year. We start in February and stage an LGBTQI production to coincide with the annual Mardis Gras, which we’ve been doing since 1994. We continue throughout the year and in September we also participate in the Sydney Fringe Festival. “We’re mainly staffed by volunteers, including the performers and crew, and rely upon public support and ticket sales to finance the productions.” History of New Theatre The New Theatre was founded as the Sydney Workers Arts Club (SWAC) in August 1932 in temporary premises at 273 Pitt Street in the city, before relocating to a more secure base nearby in October at 36 Pitt Street, former home of the Australian Seamen’s Union. Launching with the slogan “Art is a Weapon”, the first public performance took place in April the following year, featuring The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, a play based on the popular 1914 novel about an Irish sign writer and house painter struggling to find work in a southern English seaside town. This politically-charged production, adapted from a novel praised by Animal Farm and 1984 writer George Orwell, set the template for the theatre company’s future endeavours. The socially-motivated thespians were inspired by the burgeoning New Theatre movement that began in the USA, which examined and showcased the lives of working people, and grew out of the economic hardship and realignment of cultural values inflicted by the global Depression. In 1936 the SWAC adopted the name New Theatre League, shortened to New Theatre in 1945, by which time they’d set up in new premises in Castlereagh St, and set about challenging stage censorship whilst focusing on stories that explored social issues, including human rights, indigenous struggles and women’s emancipation. Following a formal protest lodged by Hitler’s government representative in Australia, New Theatre’s 1936 production of Clifford Odets' anti-fascist play, Till The Day I Die, was halted by police intervention, which caused a stir in the media as the public demanded it be allowed to continue. (Thereafter it was performed illegally). Other productions that challenged conservative thinking (and attracted the attentions of ASIO!) included Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, critical of the communism paranoia that typified the McCarthy era in the USA (New Theatre was the first Australian venue to stage the play); Pacific Paradise, opposing atomic bomb testing in the Pacific; and Steven Berkoff’s Sink the Belgrano, about Britain’s torpedo-sinking of the Argentinian ship full of conscripted sailors during the Falklands War. In 1973, after nine years at the Waterside Workers’ Federation Theatre in Sussex Street, followed by a decade in Kings Cross, New Theatre found their permanent home at 542 King St, Newtown. Ms Livingstone revealed “it was previously an old TV picture tube repair factory. We received a grant from the Gough Whitlam government to purchase the premises.” ACON Award for New Theatre In 2016, New Theatre received the ACON Honour Award for Arts and Entertainment for their “25-year commitment to LGBTI content and productions for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and for recognising diverse sexualities and genders as an important demographic within the theatre’s community and audience.” New Theatre welcomes volunteers, including set builders, lighting riggers, stage hands, costume designers and sound managers, or front-of-house bar work (with a current RSA). Membership is available for $30 a year, which includes discounted tickets, the quarterly newsletter Spotlight, and extras. Joan Lindsay’s supernatural mystery, Picnic at Hanging Rock, runs from 17 Nov to 19 Dec. New Theatre 542 King St, Newtown Email: mail@newtheatre.org.au Ph: 02 9519 3403 Website FB: https://www.facebook.com/NewTheatreSydney/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/newtheatresydney/

St Ives Shopping Village makes plans to work towards a greener, more sustainable future. St Ives Shopping Village is an establishment that's appreciated by everyone in the community. But as time goes on and concerns about the environment grow, we must all begin to consider ways we can change. The management at the Shopping Village are doing their part to reduce waste and maintain sustainable practices, contributing to a greener future for everybody in St Ives. Following the introduction of a new waste management system in November 2020, St Ives Shopping Village has successfully reduced waste and subsequent waste costs, as well as reducing its overall environmental footprint. Over 50 tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfill during the first 6 months, with figures improving month on month. Monthly numbers at a glance*. Minimum 20% of total waste is recycled: 3+ tonnes of paper and cardboard 850 kilos of co-mingled items 6,000 milk bottles (HDPE) 200+ kilos of soft plastics (LDPE) 600 litres of used cooking oil Minimum of 35% of total waste is diverted from landfill: 5+ tonnes of organic food waste (from food retailers and cafes) 1.8 tonnes of used coffee grounds Sustainability is at the core of St Ives Shopping Village's mission to become more eco-friendly. Amy Edwards, Centre Manager comments: “St Ives Shopping Village recognises the importance of its role within the community, and remains committed to the continued development of sustainability practices, so that, together, we move towards a Green Village”. The new waste management system compliments other initiatives already in place, some of which include the installation of energy efficient lighting, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and a Boomerang Bag Station to minimise plastic bag usage. Overall electricity consumption has also been effectively reduced by the installation of sensors on car park lighting and timers on air conditioning units to maximise efficiencies. The future looks greener at St Ives Shopping Village, as it continues along the pathway towards a Greener Village, for the benefit of customers, retailers, the local community and the environment.

Addison Road Community (Addi Road) ia Australia’s largest non-profit community centre and right in the heart of Marrickville. By ALEC SMART More on Marrickville Addi Rd is a multicultural collection of 43 organisations, ranging from theatre troupes, artists, gardeners, fair traders, Addi Road food pantry, and a radio station, plus various social help charities and health services. 2204 magazine visited the former military camp to learn about the interesting groups on site. Addi Road Background Based in a former Army barracks at 142 Addison Rd, the 3.6 hectare enclosed Addi Rd site was established in 1913 to train military conscripts, the Citizens Military Forces, which supplemented the regular army. Thereafter the premises were used for military service during both world wars, followed by the Korean and Vietnam wars – the latter attracting public rallies against conscription, led by women from the Save Our Sons anti-war campaign. In 1975 the Army withdrew from the Addison Rd barracks and the following year the Commonwealth Govt donated the premises for community purposes. Hundreds of volunteers worked to overhaul and renovate the dilapidated site and converted it into a multicultural community centre. Volunteers working in the Addi Road Food Pantry. Photo: Alec Smart Seven original First World War buildings remain in use at the Heritage-listed site, among them converted soldiers’ quarters along the edges, the ‘stone shed’ ammunition store, and two drill halls at either end of the former parade ground. Two venues are available for hire, the Gumbramorra Hall and the StirrUp Gallery, available year-round for film screenings, concerts, social events, workshops and exhibitions Originally government-funded, Addison Road Community Centre Organisation (ARCCO), an independent charity, now oversees the leases for the diverse Addi Rd tenants. . Addi Road Community Groups & Volunteer Opportunities Addi Rd tenants include: Radio Skidrow 88.9FM community radio; Fair Trade Emporium independent traders who work cooperatively retailing fairly traded, hand-crafted artisan-made gifts and products; Half Moon Yoga; the Hellenic Theatre that promotes theatrical arts with particular emphasis on Greek Theatre; Marrickville Community Native Plant Nursery; the Wirringa Baiya legal service for Aboriginal women and youths; Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club, a non-profit coalition of competitive and recreational bicycle riders; Maggie’s Rescue animal welfare charity; Arts About arts projects management; Aspect Autism Spectrum providing assistance for those on the spectrum and their families; and the Bush Music Club, Australia’s oldest folk music club. Addi Road Food Pantry The Addie Road Food Pantry, which rescues healthy food destined for landfill sites (often close to use-by dates expiry) and retails it discounted to low-income people, is a low-cost supermarket operation run by ARCCO at Addi Rd. Since 2017 it has expanded from a shipping container to a mini store with fridges and freezers and is staffed by 25 volunteers. A cook book, featuring recipes contributed by users of the pantry, is about to be published. During the 2019 Covid-19 lockdown across Sydney, in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, many people lost their jobs or faced severe financial hardship. As a result, the Food Pantry experienced a substantial surge in users. Already providing groceries, fruit and vegetables to 500+ customers a week - primarily low-income and disadvantaged people - Rosanna Barbero, ARCCO CEO, revealed demand for their food-relief service accelerated over 30 per cent a day in the first weeks of the lockdown. Soon they were catering to over 2000 people a week. This led to the creation and dispensing of emergency food hampers to the needy. Craig Foster overseeing food distribution to the needy. Photo: Alec Smart Craig Foster, TV presenter and former football analyst on SBS for The World Game, as well as a distinguished international-level soccer player (including four years in the Socceroos Australian national team), joined the emergency food relief program, packing and distributing food hampers. Under the #PlayForLives campaign, Foster recruited fellow sports talents to assist in aid efforts that saw them helping pack the food hampers in Addi Rd’s Gumbramorra Hall before distributing them to the elderly and disadvantaged. Foster, who is also a human rights ambassador for Amnesty International and a refugee advocate, told me at the time: “The campaign is about bringing social services and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] together with all the major sports organisations so we leave no one without.” Addi Road Food Pantry's Sustainable Community Support Although demand for essential food-aid has diminished as the coronavirus-ravaged economy slowly recovers, Addi Road Food Pantry is developing a solar-powered kitchen and purchasing an electric-powered van in an effort to reduce costs and evolve to a carbon-neutral, zero-emissions program. “Instead of food going to landfill sites,” Ms Barbero said, “we’ll pick it up in an e-car – that’s a fully electric-powered vehicle, not a hybrid, in fact only the third model made in Australia. Then the food is sorted here in our solar-powered pantry and sold at discount to the needy. Anything that gets left over will then be turned into meals in our solar-powered kitchen. “We’re refurbishing a commercial kitchen,” Ms Barbero revealed, “that we want to make available to migrants, refugees, Indigenous groups, etc. We also want people to use the kitchen for cookery workshops where they can learn and teach international recipes to each other.” Joanne Ryan, Partnerships Manager, told me, “This will provide an opportunity for Addi Rd Food Pantry customers to learn how to make tasty, nutritious meals using produce from the Food Pantry, and also from the community gardens on site. We also hope to be able to run bottling and pickling classes, using our excess fruit and vegetables so this doesn’t go to waste.” Ms Barbero revealed that Addi Rd Food Pantry already oversees a breakfast program at Marrickville West Primary School. “Some children go to school without breakfast. We supply the school groceries for the canteen, and always make sure they include fresh fruit and vegetables.” #RacismNotWelcome In Jan 2021, street signs declaring #RacismNotWelcome began appearing at key locations across Sydney’s Inner West. The Inner West Multicultural Network (IWMN), an independent network of government and non-government service providers and organisations in which Addi Road plays a leading role, provided funding for the replica street signs featuring distinctive white lettering on a red background. Independent councillor Pauline Lockie, who is of Indonesian heritage, brought the motion before the Inner West Council in November 2020 to erect 50 around the Inner West Council area. Only one dissenter, the often contrary councillor Julie Passas, rejected the motion, arguing, "there is no racism in the inner west". The #RacismNotWelcome campaign, fronted by former international footballer Craig Foster, was developed in response to a disturbing increase in racist attacks across Sydney’s inner west throughout 2020. The Asian-Australian Alliance released a report, titled ‘I am not a Virus’, linked to public perceptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, which documented 377 racist incidents between April and June 2020 in the inner west. Ms Barbero hopes the campaign taken will be taken up by all 536 local government areas across Australia. “15 councils across NSW are adopting it,” she said, “and the NSW Upper House of Parliament have passed it too.” City of Sydney and Waverley councils have already responded enthusiastically and installed signs at key pedestrian junctions. However, Cumberland City Council, which was deadlocked in a 7-7 vote on adopting the signs, saw Mayor Steve Christou cast his vote against the initiative. Mayor Christou later told The Guardian: “If those signs were to go up it would imply we had a racism problem in Cumberland…That is just wrong. Nobody condones it. You don’t need to put signs up to tell people how to behave." History of Addi Rd Foundation and Building Prior to the military’s 1913 purchase of the Addison Road site for an army barracks, and before suburban homes crept up to the boundary fence, a freshwater creek ran through the site (diverted underground by the military but still flowing beneath Addi Rd). The creek, surrounded by tall ironbark and turpentine trees, flowed into the Gumbramorra swamp north of the Cooks River, in the valley between Marrickville and Sydenham. What was once a hunting ground for the Cadigal and Wangal Indigenous clans that inhabited the region, after British colonials settled, the forests were felled, the swamp drained, and the land cleared for use as dairy farmland, followed by market gardens. During World War 1, Addison Road barracks was a recruitment centre for ANZACS heading to the Western Front, the decisive 650km stretch of killing grounds weaving through France and Belgium from Switzerland to the North Sea. Between the two world wars the buildings were utilised for community dances and social events while military horses grazed and lived on site. However, in WW2, the barracks were again deployed for war as a transit depot for military personnel, and, following that, the Korean and Vietnam wars saw drafted conscripts as well as enlisted soldiers accommodated on site, the latter attracting mass protests against conscription. In 1976, after Addison Rd Community opened, the then-Immigration Minister AI Grassby described as ‘one small world in Australia’, referring to its multicultural focus. Thereafter Addi Rd was supported by the former Marrickville Council and received Federal funding for years until independent charity ARCCO took over what is now the largest and perhaps longest-running community centre in Australia. Addison Road Community Organisation (Addi Rd) A: 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville Ph: 9569 7633 E: info@addiroad.org.au W: www.addiroad.org.au/ F: https://www.facebook.com/AddisonRoadCommunityOrganisation IG: @addiroad =======================================

There's a Star Man! And it's Johnny Romeo, Celebrated Australian Painter, Leading the Neo-Experessionist Pop Movement. Johnny Romeo is an internationally acclaimed Australian painter and also the artistic genius behind the cover of this issue of 2204. Considered Australia’s leading Pop artist, Romeo is spearheading the global Neo-Expressionist Pop movement with his electrifying collision of rock’n’roll swagger, comic book aesthetics and street art. Described by GQ Magazine Australia as ‘part punk, part pop’, Romeo’s Kitsch Pop works are explosive sugar rushes of technicolour imagery and urban grittiness that are turning heads worldwide. Armed with tongue-in-cheek humour and razor-sharp social commentary, Johnny Romeo is today renowned as a world-leading culture jammer. His works explore the influence celebrity icons and brand-name heroes have on our contemporary identity. Romeo approaches his art-making practice like a television, broadcasting colourful Postmodern visions that re-contextualise and seek to make sense of the daily cacophony of images, ads and memes we are bombarded with in our Pop-obsessed culture. Johnny Romeo took some time out for Neighbourhood Media to answer questions we know you all want to ask. Johnny, you are considered one of Australia's leading pop painters, how did your interest in this style commence? I was heavily influenced by graffiti, comics and cartoons as a kid growing up in the inner city. My love for music and skating also gave me a fascinating insight into alternative cultures like punk rock and hip hop. I also discovered artists like Picasso and Warhol in my youth. My life-long interest in pop art grew out of this exciting blend of interests and influences. When did you know you were an artist? Probably when I was 7 years old. At the time I was hit by a car while chasing a ball down a busy road. I broke my leg and was bed-ridden for months. As a kid I was very accident-prone because I was so fearless. While I was in bed recovering, I reflected and realized I needed to find less dangerous ways to seek thrills. Art seemed like the safest option. Did your school teachers recognise your skills at an early age? Yes, but then again everybody is so talented when they can be creative in a carefree and uninhibited manner and approach the world with a childlike wonder. I guess my teachers recognized something in me but more than anything, they recognized my drive and determination to want to be an artist. When did you know it was time to take your talent to the next level? I knew it was time to lift my game and take it to the next level straight out of art school… even though at the time I wasn’t­­­ exactly sure what that next level would be. Life as a university student gives you knowledge, but hope feeds the desire and drive to be better. I was fearless and relentless in my pursuit to up the ante and push my artmaking practice to new heights. Hope drove me! Can you share with us the story behind the piece that we have featured on the cover? (Johnny Romeo, Cosmic Jive, 2020, acrylic and oil on canvas 122cm x 122cm) As a Pop artist and culture jammer, I’m always on the lookout for interesting ways to fuse together snippets of Pop culture. ‘Cosmic Jive’ was inspired by rock ’n’ roll’s immortal Star Man, David Bowie, visiting Russia in the 1970’s. Visually, I was attracted to the idea of jamming the intergalactic androgyny of Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ with the imperial Russian swagger of Tsar Nicholas II to re-envision Bowie as a celestial Tsar. I worked on the painting during the peak of the Corona pandemic when all dancefloors were shut, so I wanted to create a vibrant alternate universe where David Bowie was a benevolent boogie overlord holding court over his cosmic dance floor. Is social media an important medium for artists in this day and age? Absolutely, it connects everybody and everything. As an artist if you’re not on social media you’re definitely out of touch. Having your work and practice seen and followed is important now more than ever. Life is so fast-paced and social media allows everybody the opportunity to engage Pop culture at the touch of a button. Most excitingly, social media offers people the ability to be active participants and creators of Pop culture, to create memes or viral content that become part of the very fabric of the Pop consciousness. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Everything Pop culture has to offer. From TV shows and comic books to street art and historical curiosities, to viral internet phenomena and music across the spectrum, I am fully immersed in and inspired by the Pop drenched reality in which we all live. What is your message to viewers about consumerism, celebrity fetish and pop culture? To put it in a nutshell, Pop Culture becomes us. It engulfs us and to a certain degree dominates our thoughts, our actions and ultimately our lives. We are influenced, controlled, and driven by pop culture and our memories of it. As a painter, exploring Pop culture’s unending impact on us is a constant motivation for me to make art. I’m interested in the dichotomy between consciously accepting and unconsciously denying our obsession with Pop Culture. What's next for Johnny Romeo? My next show KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER opens at Graphite Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana USA on the 4th of July weekend. The show runs from 3rd July – 2nd August 2021. As one of the top names in Pop art today, Romeo’s works are highly sought-after globally, and are held in prominent Australian and international public and private collections. He has collaborated on many illustrious projects with the likes of leading US snowboarding company Gilson Boards, craft beer alchemists Zeroday Brewing Company, world-famous punk band Blink 182 and Lexus Australia. Neighbourhood Media were especially delighted to have this opportunity to share his art and story with our community on 2204. Website: ww.johnnyromeo.net Instagram: @johnnyromeoart

Meet Toki, a 12-week old Labrador pup that was just welcomed into her Marrickville home. She’s already a local favorite and loves the attention when she goes out for short walks down Illawarra Road. She loves chewing on anything and everything - she also prefers to splash in her water bowl instead of drinking it. She’ll have tiny bursts of energy that end within minutes, leading to multiple naps throughout the day. Toki has already had visitors from all around the city and is showered with treats and toys. She’s still a little shy with dogs which is getting better as she grows, but she absolutely loves all people! Instagram @toki_the_monster.

First opened in 1989 by Lucy Godoroja, All Buttons Great & Small has grown from a humble haberdasher to a button cornucopia. More on Newtown There are over 14,000 buttons in every shape, size, and style made from everything you can think of: bone, shell, leather, enamel, wood, plastic, metal - everything. Bring in that old coat you bought at a London flea market, and they’ll match the missing button for you - even if they have to make it themselves. Theatre and movie costume designers source their accessories here. Next time you watch Star Wars or Moulin Rouge, take a closer look at the clothing. Website: allbuttons.com.au/ Address: 419A King Street

Not only do plants look good inside your home, they can make you feel good and may actually be healthy too. When it comes to interior decorating there’s no easier way to liven up a room and add colour, texture, and style than by putting a few well-chosen plants around the place. Contrary to common misgivings, most indoor plants are quite easy to keep and they don’t always need to be in sunny, airy location: some thrive in the bathroom; others are perfectly content in a cool, dim, hallway. The sheer variety of indoor plants available makes them extremely versatile as decorative items. From palms that can fan out to fill a cavernous corner, to vines that can be trained across a stark archway, to small cacti that can add humour and interest to a bare windowsill, there’s a plant that will suit every situation. Why Indoor Plants Are Good For You Yet plants also have benefits beyond the aesthetic. Studies have suggested that indoor plants are good for you. Having plants inside a home or workspace will increase positive mood and lead to better productivity and harmony. Plants are an organic filtering machine that suck in carbon dioxide and release it as oxygen. Many houseplants act as air purifiers, actually absorbing toxins including benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. Having said all this, there are some plants you should steer clear of if you have pets or young children - they may cause adverse reactions in humans and can even be fatal to cats and dogs. The best thing to do, always, is speak to an expert who can guide you on the best choice of plants for your circumstances. Beaches Plant Co is a small, family run business, operating around Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Upper North Shore. They provide highly personalised service which includes advice on choosing the right plants and where to place them. Their plants are healthy and strong and sourced from some of the best growers in the country. Plus, they’ll deliver right to your door.

The Rise of Urban Apartments and Luxury Views Sydney’s skyline is changing, and it’s not just new office towers defining the transformation. Inner-city living has become a lifestyle choice for many, with Sydney CBD apartments offering unparalleled convenience and breathtaking views. More on CBD Most big cities around the world have featured a large residential population right in the heart of their central business district, but for Sydney, inner-city living is a relatively new ideology. That said, we have caught on fast, and the market for residential apartments right in the heart of all the action has grown considerably. In fact, buildings that were once office towers are being knocked down to allow more customised residential high-rises to take their place. Some people, even those who work in the city, can’t wait to leave the hustle and bustle and head out home to the quiet, leafy suburbs. Others are choosing a complete lifestyle overhaul in the bush or by the sea, but there are many who are tantalised by the notion of being an elevator ride away from buzzing cafes, bars, nightclubs, theatres, restaurants, and the beautiful glistening waters of Sydney Harbour. Lifestyle and convenience are the two main incentives for wanting an apartment in the CBD. If you look at the price of properties here, you’ll quickly learn that those things, aka location, play a big role. However, there’s one other thing that will significantly inflate the ultimate mortgage — the view. The big ticket property sales feature apartments way up in the clouds that have breathtaking views. In fact, when you look at the listing images, you’ll realise that in some cases, a magnificent view has come at the price of square metres and some other luxuries. Nevertheless, it seems plenty of cashed-up punters are happy to pay for a view. Here are two Sydney CBD apartments that were sold this year. 71A/88 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo $17,200,000 Sold on 19 Aug 2024 4 🛏️ 3 🛁 2 🚙 218m sq This is the first apartment to come to market after the completion of the much-lauded Barangaroo building. It features views across the city from every room. The fixtures and finishings have been curated by international designers and are of the highest order. There’s a marble kitchen, polished hardwood floors, glass walls, and zoned air-con among many more features. It is also quite spacious. 801/71 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 $16,000,000 Sold on 23 Feb 2024 3 🛏️ 2 🛁 2 🚙 This apartment is in the distinctive Opera Residences building on Bennelong Point. It is a sub-penthouse and offers views across to the Sydney Opera House, Bridge and harbour, Botanical Gardens and Circular Quay. Well-appointed with finishings including Italian marble, travertine, and Herringbone floors, it boasts a gourmet kitchen with copper inlays and marble surrounds. The listing images show off the views but also betray some limited space in the bedrooms and other parts of the apartment.

For six years, Pass it On Clothing has been providing free clothing without issue. Until now. More on Sydney CBD By Claire Ollivain How Pass it on Clothing Started When Sydneysiders Chris Vagg and Olga Puga moved house in 2016, they had many quality pieces of clothing to get rid of which they wanted to make sure landed on the backs of people who needed them most. Deciding against taking the clothing to a charity bin where they might be thrown away or sold at a price, Chris and Olga went to Cathedral Street in Woolloomooloo to give them directly to people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage, passing on eleven pieces on their first night. What started as a wardrobe cull eventually grew into social enterprise Pass it on Clothing & Co, which has provided almost 200,000 quality pieces of clothing for free to homeless people in various Sydney locations over the past six years. “We wanted to ensure that people had the dignity of choice, of being able to choose what they want, because they don’t really get an opportunity to do that,” founder Chris Vagg said. “We set up everything on clothing racks, [rather than] giving people stuff in garbage bags — there wasn’t any dignity in that. That’s just how we started and it kept growing.” “When someone takes something off the clothing rack on the hanger, Olga, our professional stylist, is able to say: ‘That looks good on you,’ or ‘That’s your colour, that’s your cut.’ And then all of a sudden, people think, ‘You care’ and you can create a connection with them,” Chris continued. Pass it on Clothing Locations With weekly stalls in Martin Place and Parramatta, and monthly services in Darlinghurst and Arncliffe, Pass it on Clothing has been making a positive difference to people’s lives for years without issue. Police Act on Complaints That is, until the start of this year. Responding to complaints from corporate tenants, NSW Police have been coming down and fining the providers parked on Martin Place. Pass it on Clothing has received three fines and are now being targeted each week. “In January, the Police started coming in and were very heavy handed, issuing providers with immediate fines,” Chris said. “The community wants us to keep going. They think it’s not right, they don’t believe in social cleansing.” “The corporate tenants don’t like the look of someone outside and they want to get them removed using the NSW Police as a lever to do that,” Chris continued. “It’s a sad indictment on society that the Police haven’t just said to them ‘Hey, nah, that’s not right what you’re trying to achieve and we’re not going to do it for you.’” Because Pass it on Clothing provides services efficiently at night, when there’s no one else around in Martin Place, the community doesn’t understand why the complaints are happening. “People park anywhere they want in any other part of the city, everybody understands what we’re doing. If there were dramas that would have happened long ago. It is one tenant in the building that is causing problems, and they obviously have the financial muscle and clout to get people in power to do things,” Chris said. “We just think that’s completely wrong, that just because people have money or power, they can be treated any differently to anyone else.” Pass it on Clothing Becomes Political Issue Shadow Minister for Water, Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson MP recently posted a TikTok from Martin Place criticising NSW Police for the fines. Members of the community can support Pass it on Clothing by donating to their annual GoFundMe page, buying socks from Posisocks with the discount code PASSITON (with every pair bought, one is donated to the clothing service), or buying something from one of Pass it on’s stores to be passed on for someone homeless. Businesses can subscribe to Pass it On’s collection service through the 100 Club program (email passitonclothingandco@gmail.com for more information). Pass it on Clothing currently provides eight to ten services a month, but Chris wants to set up another location and get up to fourteen again. With plans to go to court over the fines, Pass it On needs all the support it can get from the community.

The secret receipt for business success according to Pauline Nguyen, Connect | Move your Body | Still Your Mind | Breathe | Keep Learning “Pauline Nguyen – Award Winning Author, highly sought after International Speaker and one of the most grounded Spiritual Entrepreneurs around the globe.” - The Huffington Post Pauline’s achievements include the award-winning restaurant Red Lantern. Publisher of Secrets of the Red Lantern and Way of the Spiritual Entrepreneur – the 7 Secrets to Becoming Fearless, Stress Free and Unshakeable in Business and in Life, Pauline is recognised as one of Australia’s top 50 influential female entrepreneurs and one of 200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the World. We were fortunate to catch a few minutes in Pauline's very busy life to get her top tips for business success! What advice would you give your entrepreneurial self 20 years ago? This year, 2021, we celebrate Red Lantern’s 20th Anniversary. In fact, 20 years ago, we were still control freaks, guarding the secret family recipes, running the business ourselves, thinking that no one else could do it like we can (and yes, there is some truth in that last comment). However, what happens when business owners hold on to too much control? They end up having to do all the work themselves! In the early years, Mark, Luke and I were working 80, 90, 100 hour weeks. We were tired all the time. We had no life. We were sick and tired of being sick and tired. We lost sight of all the reasons why we first wanted to go into business. The advice I would give my entrepreneurial self 20 years ago would go something like this: “Pauline, you are NOT your business. Don’t be such a control freak! If you micromanage, then your staff become very expensive! Hire those who are technically smarter than you. Relinquish some control now. “Don’t stop working hard, but you’ve got to work smarter, not harder. Get mentors, teachers, coaches to help you to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Look after yourself. Your self growth and transformation must come before anything else – otherwise, you will miss out on all the heavenly glory of what this delicious life can offer you and the fulfilment in your heart that your true contribution will bring.” What are the 3 biggest things you have learnt about business post COVID? For a business owner struggling to get their spark back post COVID, what advice would you give them? If Covid taught me anything, it taught me that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. That crisis does not change people, crisis reveals them. In all my businesses we went into action SUPER FAST, as soon as COVID hit. We pivoted. What does it mean to Pivot? To Pivot is a redirection of energy. We redirected our energy to avoid experiencing states of panic, fear, anxiety and crisis. We redirected our energy into innovation, creation, collaboration – we didn’t want to just survive COVID, we wanted to THRIVE during Covid. This mindset comes from decades of resilience, grit, courage and perseverance, all of which are muscles that must be practised. To stay calm in turmoil becomes a revolutionary act. For a business owner struggling to get their spark back post-COVID, I would give 3 pieces of advice: CONNECT with inspiring people who can see things you cannot. Multiple perspectives allow you to transcend any situation. Multiple perspectives equate to multiple solutions. MOVE YOUR BODY. Stagnation of the body equates to stagnation of thoughts and energy. Change your energy and you will change your life. The more strong, flexible and agile the body, the more strong, flexible and agile the mind. STILL YOUR MIND. Stress, fear, anxiety overwhelm will rob you of your intelligence. It will literally make you stupid. Learn to still the mind either through meditation practices or going out into nature or taking deep rest. A still mind will increase your capacity to think clearly and calmly so that you can come up with the solutions and states of being that will give you your spark back post-COVID. BREATHE! KEEP LEARNING. You must continually educate yourself and inspire yourself to expansion. If you are not growing, you are dying - full stop! Red Lantern W: Link A: 60 Riley Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney 2010 E: Link FB: @RedLanternViet Pauline Nguyen The Spiritual Entrepreneur W: Link

St Ives optometrist and mum of 4, Sindy Lowinger explains the visual strain of learning online, and what to do about it. More on St Ives Healthy vision is important for your child’s educational, physical and social development and to help them reach their full learning potential. Did you know that 1 in 5 children has an undetected vision problem? With 80 per cent of all learning experienced through vision, it is no surprise that children with undetected vision problems often fail to progress well in school. On-line school makes it that much harder! Children’s vision can change dramatically from one year to the next, so a thorough eye examination before school starts is recommended to ensure your child has healthy vision. Many children continue to experience undetected and unnecessary vision problems and often they assume that how they see is normal. We need to be able to recognise the signs of a vision problem, and to ensure children are examined regularly to detect any problems early. Symptoms of Visual Strain From Online Learning Here are the common symptoms of eye strain: complaints of blurred vision, headaches, or sore eyes / eye rubbing delayed progress in reading ability a turned eye, red or watery eyes, and frequent blinking poor hand-eye co-ordination losing their place or omitting words and skipping lines when reading losing concentration after reading Once recognised, these problems are usually easy to correct, which is why early detection and treatment of eye and vision problems are important. Ways to Relieve Your Child's Visual Stain Give your kids the right start. Get their eyes ready for learning. St Ives Optometrist, Sindy Lowinger is a local mum of 4 girls and grew up only a few blocks away from her practice on Mona Vale Rd. She has a special interest in children’s vision and vision processing and loves to give back to the community. Schedule an appointment today at the new children’s vision clinic at Sindy Lowinger Optometrist! Adult appointments too! Covid-safe measures carefully in place, off-street location with privacy; by appointment only. WB: Link PH: 0413054440 Suite 3, 217a Mona Vale Rd, St Ives 2075. Behind Chargrill Charlies, entry in alleyway up the stairs.