From the Mayor - 26 August 2020
As Mosman’s young men and women prepare for the upcoming 2020 HSC and the finish of school, all Councillors are acutely aware that the current year has brought unexpected and unprecedented change and challenges which have resulted in uncertainty, disruption and possible emotional distress. Over the coming days, Andrew Smith, Council’s Manager of Community Services and I will be meeting with our high school principals to offer our support and gratitude for the amazing job our teachers are doing in these challenging times. Barry O’Keefe Library is again holding special HSC study evenings starting in the last week of September and Council’s Youth Team are on hand to support our young people.
It is so inspiring to see COVID-19 did not disrupt the creativity, drive and passion of the 580 artists who submitted works to be chosen as a finalist for the 2020 Mosman Art Prize, the oldest and most prestigious municipal art award in Australia. The exhibited artworks and award winners were chosen by Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director of Artspace and the curator of the next Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Mosman Art Gallery has extended opening hours to seven days per week from 10am to 4pm with the exhibition closing on 4 October.
The great Russian novelist, Leo Tolstoy tells us that ‘Spring is the time of plans and projects’. Two important sustainability and resilience projects needing community input are the Mosman Environmental Foundation Trust and the Climate Action Community Consultative Committee. Both are currently calling for members and further information can be found at mosman.nsw.gov.au/eoi-environment. Council also recently facilitated three Climate Action Workshops in the lead up to our virtual Climate Action Community Forum on Tuesday 8 September. The Forum will be conducted as a webinar presentation. The link to register is here.
I am delighted to announce that Trish Bennell, a long-time Mosman resident and a Mosman Meals volunteer since 2006 is the winner of the 2020 North Shore Volunteer of the Year Award. Trish also coordinates a team of Cerebral Palsy Alliance volunteers and was one of 16 selfless Mosman residents who were in the running to receive an award. I cannot forgo this opportunity to again thank all our wonderful volunteers, including the over 400 who volunteer in and around Mosman – you enrich and sustain our community and as the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop said so elegantly, “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”.
Finally I wish to congratulate the Mosman Chamber of Commerce on its ‘Think Mosman First’ campaign, which has generated a great buzz for our valued and much loved local businesses.