Tag Archives: Leichhardt Council

Nick Origlass: Local Exception or Prophet for the 21st Century?

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Nick Origlass (1908-1996) is credited with introducing ‘open council’ and championing ‘public participation in planning’ on Leichhardt Council in the 1960s.  On April 14th as part of our  local Heritage Festival programme former Leichhardt councillor Hall Greenland spoke on the rich legacy of these ideas pioneered by Nick and his comrade Issy Wyner – whether the ideas worked; and “does, in fact, the good men and women do, live on after them?” You can download Hall Greenland’s talk here (Adobe PDF reader required).Origlass_Heritage Week talk

Nick Origlass - defending local interests in the Leichhardt area, 1970s

'Open Council' – the Leichhardt experience

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On Friday 1st of August The Balmain Association launched their latest publication Open Council A New Era In Local Government  by Issy Wyner.

Issy Wyner was an Alderman and Councillor on Leichhardt Council for 25 years spanning 1959 – 1991 and Mayor of Leichhardt in 1989-1990. His work and experience make him a highly relevant author on the topic of Leichhardt’s experience with the principles of an ‘open council’ which advocated public participation and open government.

Wyner doesn’t hold back in his criticism of some of those he shared the Council table with, or of state governments of any colour. Open Council A New Era In Local Government  presents a very personal view of the local government experience post-war at Leichhardt Council.

Open Council is for sale at Leichhardt Library for $20.00

NAIDOC '08 – National Aboriginal and Islander Week of Celebration

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Leichhardt Town Hall, 2006

“NAIDOC week” says Craig Greene, Leichhardt Council’s Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander project worker, “should be important to all Australians as it celebrates the people of the oldest living culture in the world – Aboriginal Australians! It acknowledges our survival and our continued connection to country, language and culture. It is also about Aboriginal people being proud as legitimate contributors to the nation as a whole”

 

A Gurindji man originally from the Northern Territory, Craig and his team have got together an inspiring programme of events in the Leichhardt area for NAIDOC week which runs from July 7-11, including a celebration of Indigenous film and story telling, a heritage walk in Callan Park and two events at Boomalli Aboriginal Arts Cooperative – you can download the full programme here: NAIDOC 2008 (PDF reader required)

 

More on the history of NAIDOC and its significance can be found at:

http://www.naidoc.org.au/history/default.aspx

IMAGE: Leichhardt Town Hall, 2006