Flaunt it at Newtown festival

Newtown is set to be overrun by talented designers and fashionistas when the Flaunt It festival begins in a week’s time.

Emerging fashion designers and independent labels will have the opportunity to show off their works during the week long festival that will be held at Newtown’s famous King Street.

“Newtown used to be famed for a more alternative fashion scene, but the local fashion scene has evolved to include bright, new designers on the cutting edge of contemporary tastes,” said Mayor of Marrickville, Morris Hanna.

Fashion parades will be held on Saturday 19 May at the Marlborough Hotel and will showcase pieces done by designers such as Yoshi Jones, Dragster, Marlene Dawn, Sarah-Jane and Oxi Clothing. Vintage, urban streetwear, and women’s evening and daywear couture will be some of the fashions that will be displayed on the cat-walk.

The Flaunt It festival will also have three special events during the evening – Lunarmorph, The Fitting Room, and Finale where festival goers can meet with designer and models.

This festival is organised by Marrickville Council in conjunction with City of Sydney Council.

“The aim of the festival is to recognize the area’s unique character – but also to show that the area has developed greatly. It is not all alternative, though Newtown is famous for its alternative arts and fashion, but also a home of mainstream fashion,” said Nick Murphie, Communication Coordinator of Marrickville Council.

Other links: The Glebe, What’s On

 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder and is one of the leading causes of female infertility besides Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and endometriosis.

PCOS is characterized by small, benign cysts that can be found in the ovaries which are caused by increased levels of androgens and decreased number of sex hormone binding globulins. Symptoms include irregular or no menstrual cycle, reduced fertility, excessive body hair growth, and weight gain. Other health problems that are associated with PCOS are diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases.

“PCOS is not fatal though there is a slightly higher risk of cancer of the uterus. Infertility is more common although many women have had normal pregnancies with no effect to the babies,” said Dr. Izham Cheong, a general practitioner at Dubbo Base Hospital.

There are various treatments to help manage PCOS but there is yet a cure. Some of the more popular ones are oral contraceptive pills to regulate menstrual cycles, chemical medications, healthy diet and exercise, and natural therapies.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA), a registered Australian charity, was founded in 1998 to help women diagnosed with the syndrome to better understand about their condition by providing information and encouragement through their support groups, their website and email lists. They also hope to increase awarness by lobbying the government for policies that affect PCOS women.

“Joining [POSAA] was the best thing I have ever done…I share my ups and downs with other women and they share theirs…it’s a place where you can vent your anger, sadness or happiness and everyone understands because we are all in the same boat,” said Jane*.

*Name was changed for privacy.

Cooks River Festival

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

That was the message that the Cooks River Sustainability and Arts Festival was trying to spread today.

This annual event, held at Steel Park next to Cooks River in Marrickville South, highlights the environmental and sustainability issues that people are confronted with every time they turn the tap or lights on.

“Council hopes to raise awareness of serious environmental issues with our community, and to show how ordinary citizens can make a big impact as individuals on improving the environment,” said Marrickville’s Communication Coordinator, Nick Murphie.

The day’s programme included a Sustainable Water Showcase where ambassadors helpfully answered questions and shared their experiences, and the Climate Change Project which is based on former Vice President Al Gore’s controversial 2006 movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Expert panels, workshop tents and demonstrations also ran in conjunction and they emphasised serious environmental issues while educating festival goers for a better environment.

Parents were encouraged to bring their families and make a day out of the festival with many children-friendly events also held such as craft activities and a storm water education model. Mayor of Marrickville, Morris Hanna OAM said: “It was a fun, relaxed day that the whole family enjoyed.”

Other initiatives the council supports in increasing awareness include The Watershed program which focuses on water pollution and consumption, and is a joint initiative with City of Sydney. There is also the RiverLife Interpretive Tour program which trains and supports local volunteer guides to develop and deliver tours in the Cooks River catchments area.

“[Marrickville] Council’s goal is to encourage all citizens to work in partnership with us to accepting these pressures and help us to implement solutions to manage these pressures. Council wishes to preserve and protect the environment and encourage sustainable living practices to ensure its preservation,” said Nick Murphie.

Links: Marrickville Council

What a day!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated its 75^th birthday with pomp, glory and style…if only it wasn’t for those noisy Peer Networkers!

A swarm of approximately forty hyperactive Peer Networkers (PNs) and international students from University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) descended upon the bridge to participate in the Bridge Walk. They came brightly dressed in greens and golds to show their support for Australia’s national and historical icon.

“It was very thoughtful [of the UTS organisers] to arrange this event…it is a day the international students wouldn’t have known about otherwise so it is good to get them involved,” said Michelle Beattie, a Marketing and Tourism student.

Rebecca Lai agreed: “It is lucky for them [international students] because they get to celebrate with local people and its shows them that we can be very festive.”

The UTS contingent joined the more than 200,000 group of people who officially registered to join the 3.6 kilometer walk. It started in North Sydney, ended either at Darling Harbour or The Rocks and took around an hour to complete depending if you ambled, walked, jogged or ran (the UTS group took a very long time to cross the bridge as they stopped numerous times for photos!). All who participated in the walk received a free neon green cap to commemorate the day.

For those who missed out on the walk, organisers had planned various other activities and free family entertainment at and around the area. Highlights included a ferry and workboat race around the harbour, fly-overs of historical planes, an Aboriginal smoking ceremony and the dazzling bridge lights that illuminated the night sky.

Allen Lui, the UTS organiser, said the day was a great success even though not as many people turned up as he had hoped. “It is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ special event and it was about time PNs got together with the international students…to foster the university’s international community.”

Other links:

www.ourbridge.com.au

http://photos.all.id.au (Click on Allen’s link)

 

Still young at heart

They are considered the “golden years”, the “best years of our life” and even “finally the kids are out of the house!” years.

For those aged 55 and above, Seniors Week celebrates their contribution and value to the community. This year’s week falls between the 11-18^th March and the chosen theme is ‘Live Life’. During the week, local councils go out of their way to show their appreciation to their senior residents by holding various activities and events.

“[Seniors Week] is a week where we can honour the enormous contributions that seniors make in our community through areas such as the arts, education, volunteering and business mentoring,” said Mayor of Strathfield, Bill Carney.

Strathfield Council’s Communications Officer, Anne Marie Bennett, said that in conjunction with Seniors Week, the council has organised many types of entertainments that all residents are invited to participate.

The week started off with a bus tour of greater South West Sydney including Camden, Picton and surrounding areas; finishing with a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. A Seniors Week luncheon was also held at Strathfield’s Town Hall for approximately 140 people. The activities were planned to encourage guests to meet up with old friends as well as to mingle with new ones.

A free concert featuring the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra will be held in the Town Hall as a way to commemorate the end of Seniors Week. The movie ‘Cars’ will also be shown on a big screen at Strathfield Park on Saturday night. Bennett said she hopes it will entice grandparents and their families to the park to spend an enjoyable night outside under the stars.