Australia Day 2026 in Hawkesbury
Australia Day on the Hawkesbury will return on Monday, 26 January 2026, with Hawkesbury City Council hosting a family-friendly community event at Governor Phillip Park in Windsor. The event will run from 5 pm to 9 pm and will feature a range of activities and entertainment along the Hawkesbury River. The program will open with […]
Alcohol
Alcohol has been around since the beginning of time and Australia has a culture of drinking. It is embedded in our psyche with celebrations for significant occasions, as a right of passage, after a footy match, five o’clock drinks and the time for relaxation at the end of the day when kids go to sleep. […]
Summer School Holiday Programs in The Hills
The Hills Shire Summer School Holiday Program offers free activities in January, helping children have fun while easing costs for parents, carers and guardians. The program includes an NRL Clinic, art class, gaming and technology workshops, Tennis Fun Day and a family movie screening of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants with free popcorn. Mayor Dr Michelle […]
Maps & Daydreams vs. The GPS
By Ivor Jones IN AUSTRALIA The months of December and January are traditional times for holidays. Not so many years ago many families would have collected strip maps from the NRMA throughout NSW or similar organisations in other states. Perhaps some may have called into tourist bureaus and acquired “Cartoscope” or similar maps which served […]
Turon Avenue Reserve BMX Track Resurfaced for Faster, Safer Rides
The Turon Avenue Reserve BMX track in Baulkham Hills has reopened after a major upgrade, and local riders have wasted no time putting it to the test. Resurfaced and reshaped, the track now offers a smoother and faster ride, with refreshed jumps, rollers and flowing sections designed to suit a wide range of abilities. Beginners can focus […]
Hills Residents Dig Deep to Support Mayor’s 2025 Christmas Appeal
Hills Residents Dig Deep to Support Mayor’s 2025 Christmas Appeal and Library Fine Amnesty In the spirit of Christmas, The Hills Shire has dug deep and donated more than 2000 non-perishable food items to the Mayor’s 2025 Christmas Appeal and Library Fine Amnesty. A wide variety of food items such as rice, puddings, pasta and tuna were donated […]
Hillside Public School Ends 2025 with Memorable Activities
The final weeks of 2025 have delivered a lively and memorable close to the school year at Hillside Public School, with students embracing a mix of learning, movement and shared experiences that have extended well beyond the classroom. For Years 3 to 6, karate lessons with Sensei Jordan from Black Belt Martial Arts Hornsby have […]
Christmas Time Again!
“Joy to the World!” the angels sang. But we know that sometimes it is difficult to experience that joy. There are all the expectations that can crowd out the “reason for the season”. There can be the busyness of end of year activities – and yes, sometimes we schools can add to that. But we […]
Hills Shire Council Introduces Public Art Grant to Beautify Public Spaces
Streets, parks and laneways across The Hills Shire are set to become open-air galleries under a new Public Art Grant designed to bring colour, creativity and local stories into everyday public spaces. The funding stream was adopted at the Hills Shire Council meeting on 9 December as part of a broader review of the council’s grants […]
Why are young leaves RED?
By Kay Birkinshaw In Spring, many plants have new red leaves. In these young leaves, the photosynthesis process that makes green leaves is not mature and to protect them, a chemical called anthocyanin is present. This gives a red pigment on the leaf surface. There are 2 main theories for how it protects the leaves: […]