Held on Sunday 12 October 2008
Venue:  Linnwood, Byron Road, Guildford

Welcome & Apologies
John McKenna opened the meeting at 2.08pm and welcomed everyone in attendance.  A special welcome to newly elected Holroyd Councillor Pam Colman, and our Guest Speaker Katherine Bilusic, Community Relations Officer at Merrylands Police Station.

In Attendance at today’s meeting, as per the Attendee Sheet:
Helen Olde, John Walz, Julie Walz, Michael Griggs, Hazel Keepence, Jan Thomas, Dorothy Warwick, Dorothy Thomas, Lawrie Thomas, Merle Warwick, Sue Evans, Florence McMaster, Coral Hamilton, Adriana de Haas, June de Zoete, Margaret Warn, Audrey Murphy, Kaye Weaver, John McKenna, Raema Walker, Pam Colman, Olive Wicks, Pamela Richardson.

Apologies:
Angela Caire, Judith Moller, Pat O’Brien, Irie Olde, Stan Thomas, Christine McKenna, Peter Warwick, Adela Donohoe, Beth and Russell Werner.

Confirmation of Minutes of Public Meeting held on Sunday 10 August 2008
The Minutes of the Public Meeting held on Sunday 10 August 2008, which were mailed to members, were unanimously accepted by the Meeting.  

Business Arising
Helen Olde advised that she had not included Margaret Warn as being present at the August Public Meeting, and this has now been rectified in the Minutes.

Correspondence
Helen Olde tabled the Correspondence folder.

President’s Report
Good afternoon and welcome to everyone. Another two months has passed already – it doesn’t seem that long since the last meeting.

It has actually been quite a quiet couple of months, so my report shouldn’t take too long, and we can then listen to our guest speaker and have afternoon tea (and the men can get home and catch the end of the Bathurst Car Race!).

As usual, I will start with our donations from members and friends – again, not a lot to ‘show’ this time:

• From the Guildford Road Project courtesy of Jacqui Douglas we have some WWII memorabilia from the Starr family of Guildford, including some clothing ration coupons, an identity card, an identity disc, a booklet on the “Protection of the Civil Population against Air Attack” and some information on building an air raid shelter “in the event of hostilities extending to this country” – these are extremely interesting items to add to our collection.
• The Parramatta Heritage Centre contacted us recently with the offer of a 1928 electric heater which had been donated to them by Mrs Dorothy Milan. Unfortunately, the heater does not come under their Collection Policy guidelines and they wondered if we would be able to give it a good home. Of course, we said ‘Yes’ and here it is – a very unusual looking heater!
• Flo Sumner has donated a 1930’s fox stole, a container of Pinaud Moustache wax, a pink plastic MacRobertson Chocolate Box, a pair of dark circular glasses circa 1900, a small OPSM glasses case from Macquarie Street, and an instruction book for the USHA sewing machine donated previously.
• The Australian Lace Guild, who meet at Linnwood every two months, has donated the “Tree on Life” now hanging on the wall above the display cabinets – a real work of art of lace!

Once again we thank all those who have made donations to our collection – it is growing at a great rate.

As I mentioned before, it has been a fairly quiet couple of months – the security fencing around McCredie Cottage is working well – except for an over-zealous Integral Energy meter reader who actually climbed the fence to gain access to the building to read the meter – and set off the alarms! Talk about keen!

The Department of Planning organized for the disposal of some asbestos tiles that had fallen off the old laundry building, together with some other building waste which was considered to be ‘contaminating’ the site.

We have been waiting for some representatives from the Strategic Assessments Branch to come out to assess the site to see if it warrants becoming a ‘major project’ for them regarding the proposed subdivision. They have been coming for the past two weeks - and we’re still waiting.

As you know we had an ‘informal’ meeting with the Heritage Branch a couple of months ago and as there are some issues that were not resolved, we approached them again to have another meeting. Their response was a request for us to submit some paperwork outlining what we have been doing over the past six years and what we have planned for the future, and they would assess that submission in regards to perhaps drawing up a “Memorandum of Understanding” to give us some tenure on the site. We will keep you posted as to the outcome of this.

It has also been suggested that we once again write letters to the State Government requesting that they reconsider the sale of the rear of the property, especially as there has been quite a shuffle of ministers and their portfolios in recent times. We would also suggest that members might like to send their own letters to the relevant ministers.

Some members of the committee also recently attended a ‘meet & greet’ hosted by Guildford Leagues Club, to meet those nominees standing for South Ward in the recent Council elections. The successful candidates were John Perry (now the Deputy Mayor), Pam Colman and Nasr Kafrouni. We will be hoping that these Ward Councillors will be as supportive of the Friends as the previous Councillors, and that the Council as a whole will also continue their support.

We are in the process of applying for a couple of grants – one from Museums & Galleries NSW to cover the cost of printing a new colour brochure for Linnwood, and the other grant we are applying for is a Volunteers Grant from the Federal Government to purchase some more stable ladders (changing light globes with the existing ladders is a real adventure – just ask John!), and a new vacuum cleaner, more powerful than the one we have now.……. so wish us luck!

Unfortunately, access to our website is a bit of a problem at the moment since Council revamped their own site. At the moment, access only seems to be happening through the Council site itself, so we will again be contacting their webmaster to try and rectify the problem. So if you have been having problems trying to look at the Linnwood website – we’re working on it!

Other things that have been and will be happening are:

• We attended the Hewitt House Festival in August, so thank you to those members who ‘manned’ the stall.
• The Australian Miniature Enthusiasts hired Linnwood for two days in September to hold some workshops.
• The proposed Western Sydney History Fair that was to be held here at the end of this month has unfortunately been cancelled, but will hopefully be rescheduled for some time next year.
• Our September Open House had a Scottish theme and we were very lucky that the rained stopped at all the right times to allow the Band and the Highland Dancers to perform.
• The November Open House will feature a display by the Australian Beer Can Collectors Club, which should prove interesting, and Pioneers will be showing a display of work done by some of their clients, so come along and help support our very close neighbours.
• Don’t forget ladies, that the Baileys Fashion Parade will be held here on Saturday 22nd November from 1.30pm and garments may be purchased on the day. There is a $5 entry fee and this includes afternoon tea. If you could let us know beforehand if you are attending, for catering purposes, we would appreciate it.
• We will be planning a working bee for early in the new year – date and chores to be determined yet, but we do hope to do some gardening, start cleaning the ceilings under the verandahs, and also some window cleaning.
• Don’t forget our Christmas Dinner on Sunday 14th December after the Public Meeting – the cost will be $10 for members and $12 for non-members, Please contact Helen or myself if you would like to book your seat.

Well, I think that just about covers everything, so once again thank you for coming today and I hope you enjoy the talk by our guest speaker and can stay for some afternoon tea.

Thank you – and hope to see you all at our December meeting and Christmas dinner.

Treasurer’s Report
John McKenna presented his financial report for August and September, noting that both months were relatively quiet.

                                                                           August                   September

             Income                                                $  398.50                   $  1,511.55
             Expenditure                                        $  205.60                   $     552.28

             Bank Balance                                  $19,751.05                   $20,667.42
             Interest Bearing Deposit               $16,061.20                   $16,263.62

General Business
Michael Griggs encouraged everyone to write to the new Minister for Planning, Christine Keneally, our local Member Joe Tripodi, Minister for Western Sydney David Borger, and also our Federal Minister Jason Clare, asking that reconsideration be given to the sale of the Tamplin Road site. 

Raema Walker enquired about the recent census from the Bureau of Statistics, and John McKenna advised we had answered that request.  While Linnwood has a collection of donations and memorabilia, we are listed on the Museums Australia site even though we are not a museum.  We did seek advice from Museums Australia as to how we should complete the census and this has been resolved.

Hazel Keepence advised that in three years time (2011), Linnwood will be 120 years old and she would like to see something special done to celebrate the occasion.  As Hazel spent some of her teenage years at Linnwood she knows that the former girls would like to be involved in whatever we decide.  Hazel also queried the whereabouts of the plaque that was put down for the 100 year centenary.  Dorothy Warwick advised that we probably would not be able to get it back, and that if we wanted another plaque for the 120-year celebration we would have to seek permission from the Heritage Office.

Guest Speaker
John McKenna then welcomed Katherine Bilusic, Community Relations Officer at Merrylands Police Station.  Katherine has been at Merrylands for three years and has been in her current role for the last six months, replacing Sue Carter who is on maternity leave (and who gave birth to a little girl).

Katherine gave a presentation on personal safety and encouraged everyone to think about the following points:

Contacting the Police in an Emergency
Remain calm, provide the address and nearest cross street, advise of any significant landmark close by, and supply your phone number.  Explain why you need the Police, and stay on the phone if you are asked to - you may be asked to provide further information.

Emergency Calls to 000
Calls to 000 are for emergency calls only, where life or property is in immediate danger.  If you ring the number the operator will ask if you need Police, Ambulance or Fire Brigade, i.e. a motor vehicle accident.  The operator will call the appropriate service, or individual services sometimes call each other for assistance.

If you are unwell and call 000 and then collapse, or if there is an intruder in your home, your phone line can be traced - the service will be able to locate where you’re calling from.

Police Assistance Line - Phone 131444
This service is when you need to report an offence which does not require an immediate Police response, i.e. break-in, a victim is not traumatised, graffiti if it is on private property (if graffiti is on Council property you need to call Council), if the crime is not serious, e.g. your property has been broken into while you were out, if there has been malicious damage to your property, or a stealing offence where no offender has been identified.

Holroyd Local Area Command, Merrylands - Phone 9897 4899
To report suspicious activity, to report door knockers (con men, scam artists), to report an offence where an offender has left the scene but can be identified, if there is fingerprint evidence available, if you have a noise complaint, if you want to speak to a police officer, or if you want to make an enquiry.  Always take note of the Police Report Number if you report an incident so that you can follow through if the police don’t get back to you within a reasonable time.

Crime Stoppers - Phone 1800 333000
If you have information about a crime or criminal behaviour.  You don’t have to give your name but the police still need your contact information.  If your information leads to an arrest, you may receive a reward of up to $1,000.

Reporting to Police
When making a report, ask for an Event Number.  This is a preliminary reference number for your complaint.  Always get the police officer’s name and rank.  If you are from a non English speaking background you can ask for an interpreter.  If you want to remain anonymous the police can’t get back to you to let you know the result of the police enquiries (except when you ring 000), therefore it is best to leave your details.  Inform the police if you don’t want them to attend your home to gather further information, but let them know they can contact you by phone.

Police Prioritisation of Jobs
All emergency services prioritise their workload.  Obviously life threatening situations take priority, also if a very serious offence is occurring or if there is a serious motor vehicle accident.  Other less serious offences would then be placed further down the list of priorities.  Stealing or malicious damage offences will not receive an immediate response if police are busy.

Safety Inside Your Home
Keep shrubs and hedges well trimmed to maintain a clear view of your house from the street.  Keep the outside of your home well lit during the night - consider installing a sensor light.  Make sure your house number is visible from the street so that emergency services can find you.  Don’t leave notes on your door telling people you aren’t at home.  Hint:  Put some undies on the line or place some boots by the door so people think you’re at home.  Consider installing an alarm system.  Install window locks and leave the key in the lock.  Consider installing good quality Australian Standards security screen doors at all entries.  Leave the key in the lock on the inside of the door - this is so you can get out of the house in an emergency.  Consider installing a peep hole in the front door and ensure you have a light outside.  A chain on the front door allows you to speak to someone at the door before allowing them in - and get in the habit of using it.  Ensure skylights and roofing tiles can’t be easily removed or opened from the outside.  Don’t leave your screen doors or front and back doors unlocked while you’re outside gardening or hanging washing.

Ensure you have a working smoke alarm.  Consider having a phone by your bed, and pre-program contact numbers into the phone, i.e. 000, local police station and family members, and keep a list of the numbers by the phone.  Don’t write your name and address on your keys.

Dealing with Sales People
Never let anyone into your home if you don’t know them - ever!  “If Unsure, Don’t Open the Door”.  You are not obliged to buy or sign anything - if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is!  If you haven’t called a service yourself, don’t let the person in, but find out all you can about the company, telephone numbers, address, refund policy.  Don’t give anyone your bank details, not even over the phone.  Ask to see some company identification through your locked screen door.  Ask for time to think about the offer.  Don’t agree to be driven to the bank to withdraw money.  If you receive something from a company that you didn’t order, you are not obliged to pay for it.

Dealing with Unknown Visitors
If a stranger calls at your door wanting to use the toilet or the phone, SAY NO!  Direct them to the nearest public telephone or offer to make a phone call for them rather than letting them into your home.  Maintenance and repair people working for utilities such as power and telephone companies will carry identification.  Ask to see their ID and then ring the company to check if they have representatives currently in your area.  If you are suspicious call your local police station.  Be wary of giving money to charity collectors - they should carry identification.  Offer to send a cheque to the charity if you are suspicious.  If you receive information in the mail about winning a lottery etc, throw it away.

Dealing with Telephone Callers
Don’t provide any personal details over the phone at all.  If you receive nuisance calls, hang up and contact your telephone provider.

Safety Outside the Home
Try and limit the items you carry in your bag to a minimum.  When driving, keep your car doors locked and open the windows just enough for ventilation.  Travel along well lit roads rather than side streets, back lanes or vacant blocks.  Try not to walk alone.  If you have to wait for a bus or train, wait in a well lit area close to other people.  When travelling by train, travel in the guard’s carriage.  Carry a small torch with you if you are out after dark.  Walk on the other side of the road to avoid someone coming up behind you.  Walk confidently, head held high, and be observant of your surroundings.  Carry a personal alarm.

Personal Alarms
Consider how easy it is to use, how heavy it is, how much it costs.  Alarms are helpful in alerting other people, but they don’t guarantee protection from an attack.

Money
When going to the bank, vary your route, try not to go at the same time on the same day.  Try and get some of the money in smaller denominations.  Put the money straight into your purse or bag before moving away from the teller.  The best practice is to put the money on your person, in a pocket, in your bra or in a sock.  Don’t display cash in public.  If you use an ATM, try to use less isolated machines.  Stand side on, not with your back to the street.  Use ATMs during the day, not at night.  EFTPOS is a safer option, so take cash out at the supermarket.  Remember your PIN number and don’t give it to anyone.

Bag Safety
The best option is not to carry a bag at all.  Don’t carry your life in your bag.  Put your house keys in your bag and only have one or two keys for the house on your key ring.  Don’t have the strap of your handbag around your wrist.  If someone grabs your bag don’t resist - let it go.  Don’t hang your handbag on the back of toilet doors where someone can put their hand over the top of the door and take it.  Don’t leave your handbag sitting next to you wherever you are - always have it on your lap, and don’t leave your handbag in the supermarket trolley and turn your back to pick up an item.

If you are Away From Home for a long time
Inform your local police - ask about the “Away From Home Book”.  Ask a trusted friend to collect your mail and put your garbage bin out.  Cancel deliveries such as newspapers, bread and milk, turn the telephone volume down.  Consider installing timers for lights, TVs and radio, and don’t leave a message on your phone telling callers that you’re away.

If you do become a Victim of Crime
Never be afraid or embarrassed to report a crime.  The police are here to help you.  The NSW Victims of Crime Bureau is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - phone 9374 3000, or 1800 633063.  For more information on preventing crime and protecting your home and property, call Crime Prevention on 9897 4850.

Programs for Seniors
The program is only at Holroyd at the moment, and will be launched statewide next year.
The Next of Kin Register, for persons living alone, offers a key ring which records the name and contact details of your designated next of kin, also your doctor’s details.
The Wanderers Register is mainly for people who suffer Alzheimers or dementia.
The Safely Home Register works in conjunction with Alzheimers Australia.

Crime is Falling
The perception of crime far outweighs the actual - statistics are not as bad as what you may think.

Next Meeting
The next Public Meeting of the Friends of Linnwood will be held on Sunday 14 December 2008.  Our speakers will be Dorothy Warwick and Pat O’Brien who will tell us about the History of Holroyd. 

Raffle
The raffle was drawn by Katherine Bilusic and won by Flo McMaster .

Meeting Close
The meeting closed at 3.30pm.