THE HISTORY OF MY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN KOGARAH, 1985 – 2018

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Why Do I Have an Interest in Community Issues?

My ancestry in politics dates to my paternal great grandmother’s father in Malmsbury, Victoria. He was known as Bristol Bill Hollyman, (c1828-1907). Bill was a pugilist in the mid to late 1850’s, then a butcher, who later served on Malmsbury Council from 1889-1891.

Bill was born in Bristol, United Kingdom and stowed away on the “Royal Bride”, arriving in Melbourne in 1854. Family folklore tells the story that Bill was forced to eat swede turnips until he was found onboard. Then, he had to do the butchering on the “Royal Bride” to pay for his passage.

I grew up in Wallsend, Newcastle.  I discussed both Australian and world political events with my father, and had a natural curiosity for politics.

I completed a Diploma of Urban Studies at Macquarie University, Ryde, Sydney 1981-1983. The academics, who taught me in this degree, left a strong impression. Dr Leonie Sandercock, Dr Peter Spearritt (Social Historian) and Dr Patricia Ryan, in particular, influenced my interest in the urban environment and social history.

I began my teaching career at St George Girls, Kogarah in late February 1977 when I was appointed from Figtree High School, Wollongong as a Social Science/Maths teacher. I taught Maths for a few years, and then moved to only Social Science subjects.

I recall wearing a brown boxed pleated Fletcher Jones mini skirt and a bright green Fletcher Jones top along with brown high heeled shoes to on my first day at St George  Girls. I still have the skirt and the top!

From 1985-February 1998, I was the Assistant Supervisor of the Saturday School of Community Languages at St George Girls. Greek was the major language taught, along with Italian, Macedonian and Arabic. Later Macedonian classes went to Kogarah High School.

I joined the St George District Business and Professional Womens Club, originally Hurstville BPW in 1977. The Club met at Kogarah RSL over many years until it folded in 2005 and then joined with Sutherland BPW Club.  I was the St George Club Secretary, and then President over a number of years.

My Political Involvement

Politics soon beckoned. I started my political career when I was nominated by the late Brian Bannon, Member for Rockdale, as a Director of St George Hospital Board in December 1985.  I joined the late Nancye McAloon as community appointments to the Hospital Board. I recall taking the phone call from the Chair, the late Joe Orr, to confirm my appointment.

In December 1986, I was reappointed to the Board, when it was renamed the St George Area Health Service. I became the first female Treasurer of the Board in December 1986, which meant that my signature then appeared on hospital cheques.

I ran as an Independent candidate for the State seat of Kogarah in the March 1999 election and gained almost 9 per cent of the vote.

The St George Area Health Service Board was dismissed in April 1988 by the newly elected Liberal Greiner Government. These were interesting political times of leaks to the press in the lead up to the March State election.

I heard of the Hospital Board’s dismissal on the car radio, as I was driving home from school. Whilst I was stunned at the dismissal, I was not surprised. My dismissal notice, signed by the Lieutenant Governor, was under my front door when I arrived home. It features in the book, which was written by Lindsay Ritchie on St George Hospital, “The Healing Saint 1892-1994.”

Sacked Board members, by mid- 1988, had had a farewell dinner together. The then Chairman of the St George Area Health Service Board, Leo Vineburg gave us a bottle of wine. On the bottle was attached “an appropriate and pointed political message.” A salutary experience for me of my “first political execution” at the young age of 34. Other “executions” were to follow on Council in the years ahead.

In 1985, I joined Kogarah Council’s International Youth Year Committee. In 1985-1986, I was a member of then Kogarah Council’s Bicenntenial Committee, which was wound up in 1986.

I joined Kogarah Historical Society in the late 1980’s and remember well the late Arthur Ellis and his vocal command of local history at meetings. A photo he gave me, well before his passing in 2001, features on the rear cover of my History of Moorefield Racecourse book.

During the period 1991-1999, I was a Councillor at Rockdale Council, representing Third Ward. I served on many Committees during my two terms at Rockdale; in my second term I chaired a number of Committees.

In mid-1993, I began my research on Moorefield Racecourse (1888-1951) Kogarah. Little did I know that it would take until July 14, 2016 to be published in e book format,and a hard copy on October 13, 2016. I was determined to make the July 14,2016 deadline, 65 years to the date of the last Moorefield race meeting.

In 2017, my Moorefield book was given to the National Library in Canberra, the State Library, Sydney and the Royal Australian Historical Society. It is also in the Local Studies Collection at Kogarah Library (Georges River Council) and Rockdale Library (Bayside Council).

A copy, which was given to the Cox Library London, a private collection, was catalogued in August 2017. The Cox Library is the world’s biggest collection of horse racing histories. In May 2018, my book will be entered into the Bill Whittaker Award for “new racing publications over the past 2 years.” The award is in memory of the late Bill Whittaker, senior horse racing journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald.

I have always maintained, whilst a Councillor at Rockdale City Council, an interest in matters relevant to Kogarah Council. I recall addressing a Kogarah Council meeting in 1997 to voice my opposition to the planned demolition of Dr Lamrock’s home, “Devaran” on the corner of Kensington and Belgrave Street, Kogarah. Sadly, this building was demolished in October 1997 for an apartment block.

Dr Lamrock was the founding Honorary Doctor to the St George Cottage Hospital from  1894 onwards until his untimely death in 1915. He was also the Honorary Surgeon, from 1889 onwards to the Moorefield Racing Club, Kogarah.

In approximately mid-1998, I attended a public meeting at Kogarah RSL. This meeting was held by Kogarah Council to discuss the land-use zonings in Kogarah South.  Kogarah South was soon to be in my new Ward – North Ward.

In early January 1999, an event took place at a Brighton restaurant, which changed my political career. I was forced to change Councils. Had I run in the Rockdale Council elections I would have been preferenced out, and then lost at the 1999 Rockdale Council election.

My father and I made the snap decision in Woolworths at Kogarah that afternoon. He said to me “if you want to stay in Local Government, then you have to go to Kogarah Council.”

The Kogarah Bay Progress Association representative, Councillor Laurie Seidl was retiring at the 1999 election, and I became the candidate for the Council election. I bought a property in Blake Street, Kogarah to enable me to be on the non-residential rate paying roll.

I recall the General Manager of Rockdale City Council, Stephen Blackadder saying to me in mid-1999 “congratulations Anne, you have trumped the boys at the ballot box.”

At the September 11, 1999 Council elections I was elected as an Independent  to represent North Ward on Kogarah Council.

Councillor Nick Katris (ALP) and Councillor Nick Varvaris (Liberal) were my Ward colleagues. We stayed Ward colleagues until I retired from Council in 2008.

I then served on the following Council Committees:

Development Assessment Committee; Heritage LEP Task Group; Estuary Management and Environmental Protection Working Party; Urban Planning and Design Working Party; Kogarah Community Services Board; Community Safety Committee; Council delegate to SSROC Access; Council delegate to SSROC Heritage Forum and worked on upgrading Kogarah Council’s School Kit. I had worked previously with a Committee on a School Kit at  Rockdale City Council, and it was published in 1997.

Kogarah Council was vastly different to Rockdale Council. Whilst they are adjacent Councils, separated by the Princes Highway, it was initially a culture shock for me in “crossing the Highway.” The Council’s political makeup at Kogarah was now Liberal, and as an Independent it was a case of “sink or swim”.

At the April 13, 2004 Council elections, the 3 North Ward Councillors Field, Katris and Varvaris were re-elected unopposed. This was a welcome relief in not having to run a campaign, as my elderly father was not well and I was his carer.

I then served on the following Council Committees:

Estuary Management and Environmental Protection Working Party; Access Working Party, Urban Planning and Design Working Party; Community Safety Working Party; Georges River Combined Councils Committee, Economic Working Party and Kogarah Community Services. I was the chair of this Committee from 2001 until 2008. Occasionally, I am now invited to attend major celebrations at Kogarah Community Services.

In late 2000, I was awarded a Parliamentary Fellowship from the Federal Parliament’s Parliamentary Education Office. The terms of my Fellowship meant that I had to produce something in the community to reflect the centenary of Federation. I chose to read the Constitutional Conventions of the 1890’s, and to then decide on one to use as a role play.

On August 10,2001 at 7pm in the School of Arts, Queens Road Kogarah my role play titled “A Nation At Last” was held. This was held to celebrate the Centenary of Federation in Kogarah, and to honour Sir Joseph Carruthers.

Joseph Hector Mc Neil Carruthers KCMG, MA, LLB solicitor and politician was prominent in the movement for the incorporation of the Municipal District of Kogarah between 1884 and 1886. He was a vigorous proponent of the benefits of Local Government to the district. Carruthers initiated the movement for the building of the Kogarah School of Arts, which opened in 1887.

I read the 1897 Constitutional Convention during the January 2001 school vacation. Jim Searle, a playwright and producer from the Guild Theatre, Rockdale, whom I had known over many years, scripted the 1897 Constitutional Convention. This was put into a manageable format for the Role Play.

I then chose leading male citizens of Kogarah to play the role of only 17 Convention delegates, who represented NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Nine leading ladies at the turn of the century in Kogarah, as well as in Australian politics, were chosen. Female citizens of Kogarah were invited by me to play the following: Mrs Maybanke Wolstenholme Anderson, Mrs Sarah English, Mrs Vida Goldstein, Mrs Margaret Lamrock, Miss Elizabeth Moore, Mrs Annie Nielsen, Miss Rose Scott, Miss Catherine Spence, and Mrs Jane Vogel. I played Miss Elizabeth Moore from the Moore family of Moorefield Racecourse, due to my interest in researching  The History of Moorefield Racecourse (1888-1951).

I undertook a roll call, in character role, at the corner of Queens Road and Gray Street Kogarah. I can never forget the checked pants of Sir Isaac Isaacs (Mike Sommerville, Kogarah solicitor) and the long beard of Sir Alfred Deakin! (Tim Daley, Kogarah solicitor)

The Kogarah Municipal Band played as we all walked in procession to the School of Arts. The Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony of NSW and its Dependencies, The Right Honourable Henry Robert Viscount Hampden, who was played by Alf Abbott, led the distinguished procession. The male delegates then followed. The ladies, participating in the role play, carried placards demanding such things as better rights for education, health and working conditions.

The male delegates looked very distinguished in their top hats and tails. The female delegates had to cope with layers and layers of material, and in some cases hooped petticoats. I recall how difficult it was for me to drive my car wearing my Victorian cream silk outfit with miles of fabric!

I had consulted the textile teacher at St George Girls High School to ensure that my outfit was appropriate to the Victorian period. A Kogarah dressmaker, Rosa made my outfit and still has the photo taken of her fitting my dress.  I wore it again at Parliament House for the Centenary function of Women and the Vote on August 27 2002.

John Mulcair, Leader journalist began the evening’s proceedings by narrating the events leading up to the 1897 Convention. The Role Play then took place. Supper was served by the Lamrock Committee, whilst Victorian music was played by the St George Players.

After supper, John Mulcair then spoke of the events post 1897 to Federation. Two students from St George Girls, Alicia Tripp (Year 11) and Hansika Bhagani (Year 12) spoke on “ how women fared in the decade leading up to January 1, 2001.”

We had a great night performing for our audience, which included Mrs Roslyn Strong, Director of the Heritage Office. Monies raised were later donated to St George Hospital.

Today, delegates still remind me when they see me of the fun night we had in commemorating a part of Kogarah’s history. Some photos are on annefield.net.au.

For the October 2001 Peoplescape, which was held in Canberra on the forecourt of Parliament House, Thelma Pimm (local artist), Vicki Kitanov (Council staff member) and I worked at Council on making Peg Boundy. Peoplescape was the last event held to celebrate the Centenary of Federation.

Peg was chosen to be one of the 5000 people in this exhibition commemorated for her community involvement. Peg was a long term Kogarah resident, who had taught at Sans Souci Infants, and was later Principal at Beverley Hills Infants. She was involved in Meals on Wheels, Red Cross and the St George Business and Professional Womens Club.

On May 8,2006 I was awarded a  Mayoral Minute for my EDNA. This award was for Services to Women in Local Government and was presented at Council on May 12 2006.

In mid-2006, I was an inaugural entry into the Whos Who Of Australian Women. I received a Mayoral Minute at Council on August 14, 2006.

Whilst I had planned to retire at the 2008 Council elections, I ran as a number 2 on Chris Apostolakos’s ticket. Chris, a Kogarah solicitor, was unsuccessful and Lachlan McLean replaced me as the North Ward Councillor. My farewell speech to Council is on my website, annefield.net.au.

In April 2009, Kogarah’s Volunteer Heroes was launched in Heritage Week in Kogarah Library. I had instigated this Council project after my father’s passing in early 2007, to recognise the many volunteers in Kogarah’s past and present. Many volunteers had not previously been recognized for their community contribution.

My life on Council was made tough for me at times. I believe that I survived the “boys club” with my political reputation intact. At the end of my 9 year Kogarah Council term, I received a letter from a resident, which stated that “the Don Chipp of Kogarah was leaving us.”

I officially retired from St George Girls High School on January 26, 2012, and celebrated by staying in an apartment in Darling Harbour to enjoy the fireworks. I gave my farewell speech at St George Girls on December 20, 2011 at the staff Xmas luncheon. Thirty five years teaching at St George Girls was now at an end; my next career as an author was about to begin…….

My farewell speech appears on my website annefield.net.au. I enjoyed writing this speech, which captured only a minute part of my many years at St George Girls High School.

I received a Mayoral Minute, for my services to education at St George Girls High School, from Kogarah Council on February 27,2012  and Rockdale City Council on   March 7, 2012. A Notice of Motion by the Honourable Shaoquett Moselmane was delivered in the NSW Upper House on March 27, 2012. I was presented with a framed copy of this Notice of Motion on March 29, 2012 at an afternoon tea at Parliament House.

In late September 2012, I learned from a local resident of the contents of a notice on the old Hospital Kiosk window. It indicated that Griffith House was in danger.” A new Hospital Emergency building  was to be built in Gray Street, and the Hospital Administration deemed Griffith House as “surplus to needs.“

The Kogarah community swung into action immediately with a vigorous campaign. I was asked by the late Catherine Stanmore, a Kogarah resident and heritage advocate, to co-ordinate the campaign. A small group of Kogarah Council residents ran the campaign to save Griffith House.

Others in the wider St George community supported the fight with Letters to the Editor at the Leader newspaper, letters to the Health Minister and to St George Hospital. The Leader printed many articles on the fight to save Griffith House. The Daily Telegraph’s Urban Affairs reporter, Vikki Campion wrote an article, which was published on  October 19, 2012.

The Save Griffith House group funded a professional heritage architect, Lynette Gurr of NBRS and Partners to produce a detailed heritage report. The group believed that there were substantial flaws in the heritage report, which was produced for the Department of Health.

Sadly, the community learned that we had lost Griffith House. A Community Farewell was held on Sunday February 24, 2013. The shroud was up around the demolition structures by mid-April 2013. I drove past it on Saturday April 13,2013  en-route to the TAB to back Black Caviar. I was very angry; I also backed Almas Fury, which was running in the BMW Doncaster.

Some community members, under the cloak of darkness, vented their anger by painting ‘Shame’ at various places on the shroud around Griffith House. It was a sentiment shared by many. People still comment to me today on “the lovely house, which was next to the fire station in Gray Street.”

Dr Richard Herrmann, a medical professor, whose great grandfather, Peter Herrmann, had built Griffith House, contacted me on April 15, 2014 from Perth, Western Australia.  Richard had requested a USB of the Griffith House Report for Herrmann family history. It was later sent to him.

I entered the report on the fight to save Griffith House, St George Hospital campus, into the Advocacy Category of the 2014 National Trust Heritage Week Awards. A hard copy is in the Local Studies Collection Kogarah Library. And a USB of my Griffith House Report was given to both Hurstville and Rockdale Local Studies collections.  Saving The Community’s Heritage and Action Guide were entered into the Education Category of the 2014 National Trust Heritage Awards.

These two documents were produced as a result of the Griffith House campaign by a small group of heritage advocates. The document was launched on November 10, 2013, at “Linnwood” in Granville by Barbara Perry, the then Shadow Minister for Heritage. The document appears on annefieldauthor.com.

The long and arduous fight to Save Griffith House is recorded in the heritage category on my website annefieldauthor.com. It was a timely experience for the community of dealing with Government bureaucracy.

I played no role in the Kogarah LEP’s journey through Kogarah Council from mid-2014 until its gazettal by the NSW Government and Department of Planning in May 2017. The Kogarah community had set up resident action groups to fight the LEP. I was busy researching and writing my History of Moorefield Racecourse, (1888-1951) in order to meet my planned launch date of July 14, 2016.

The Kogarah LEP will result in the loss of a substantial part of Kogarah’s early housing stock and heritage properties. These properties are located within walking distance of Kogarah Station and were built after the Illawarra Railway line was built in the mid-1880’s.The Victorian properties will be replaced by multi-storey unit development from 2018 onwards.

My community work within Kogarah has since 1985, been both diverse and extensive. It has been challenging, and stressful at times, but worthwhile.  Over the years, I have contributed to community issues through my many Letters to the Editor, as well as featuring in articles, which were published in the Leader newspaper.

One local resident informed me at the 60th anniversary celebrations at James Cook Boys Technology High School, in November 2016 that “he had watched me age through the pages of the Leader!”

Anne Field

February 14, 2018

 This was my entry into the an inaugural Kogarah Historical Society – Local History Awards. 2018