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From St Joseph’s to Vaires-sur-Marne: the Rowing Odyssey of Jack Hargreaves

Jack Hargreaves has become one of Australia’s premier rowers, with a journey that began in the small town of Nyngan. His path to success led him through St Joseph’s College, where he first dipped his oar into competitive rowing. Now, he is set to represent his country once again in Paris 2024 at the picturesque Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

Read: Top-Rated Restaurants Near Hunters Hill

Rugby roots to rowing triumph

A talented rugby player, Hargreaves only took up rowing to maintain fitness during the summer months. However, his decision to focus on rowing after high school has proven to be a game-changer.

Joining Sydney University Boat Club, Hargreaves quickly made his mark in the sport. Hargreaves’ international career began in 2013 with his debut in the men’s eight at the World Rowing Cup I and U23 Championships.

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Despite missing selection for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Hargreaves redeemed himself spectacularly. He claimed consecutive gold medals in the coxless four at the 2017 and 2018 World Rowing Championships, earning the FISA Male Crew of the Year award in 2018 alongside his teammates.

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A post shared by Jack Hargreaves (@jhargreaves93)

The pinnacle of Hargreaves’ career came at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Alongside Alexander Purnell, Spencer Turrin, and Alexander Hill, he clinched gold in the men’s coxless four. This victory was particularly sweet as it ended Great Britain’s five-Games winning streak in the event.

For his achievements in the sport, Hargreaves was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022.

Jack Hargreaves in Paris 2024

Now, Hargreaves faces a new challenge. He has been named in the men’s coxless eight for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he will join his Tokyo 2022 teammates Spencer Turrin and Alexander Purnell alongside Kendall Brodie, Ben Canham, Angus Dawson, Josh Hicks, Jack O’Brien, and Angus Widdicombe—in a bid to secure Australia’s first gold medal in the event.

“The Eights are the nation’s boats. We’re a proud nation. We’re a proud nation of Eights as well,” Rowing Australia’s Paul Thompson said.

Read: Top Events In Hunters Hill

The team’s journey begins with the heats on July 29, five days after his 31st birthday. This is followed by potential repechages on August 1 and the medal event on August 3.

Published 19-July-2024

163 Year 12 Students in Hunters Hill Boarding School Vaccinated by Mistake

Some 163 boys from St Joseph’s College, a Hunters Hill boarding school, got their first jab of the Pfizer vaccine by mistake. The vaccine was only intended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students but all of the Year 12 boys who went to the vaccine hub at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital were given their first dose.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed in a statement that the Year 12 boarders were inoculated “through an error.” He issued an apology along with local chief health officer Kerry Chant, who said that the vaccination had been “a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, a misstep.”

St Joseph’s College headmaster Ross Tarlinto said that the school approached the Sydney Local Health District in May 2021 about the vaccination since they have a large number of students who belong to rural, remote, and indigenous communities. In NSW, only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could get the Pfizer vaccine if they are above 16 years old as they are the priority groups.

The Hunters Hill boarding school, one of the most expensive and largest Catholic boy’s schools in Sydney, has nearly 1,100 students but only four percent are Indigenous, per the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Of Year 12 students who were supposed to have the Pfizer vaccine, fewer than five identify as Indigenous.

*Photo Credit: St Joseph’s College/Facebook*

Teresa Anderson, the local health district’s chief executive, said that they agreed to vaccinate Aboriginal students. They initially believed that the 163 students coming in from St Joseph’s College were Indigenous but realised this wasn’t the case when the boys arrived at the hub. Reports cited that the staff who had to administer the vaccine could not turn them away.

Amber Flohm of the NSW Teacher’s Federation said that the community is outraged about the mistake as it shows society’s inequality. Ms Flohm said that this behaviour should not be tolerated amidst a pandemic.

NSW Health assured the public that no other private schools in Sydney have had the same experience. However, King’s School in Parramatta, another boarding school, has approached NSW Health regarding the possibility of vaccinating their students. They have to receive approval.

Mark Your Calendars! Exciting New Events Coming to Hunters Hill

Looking for a little excitement this June? Hunters Hill and neighbouring areas are about to become hotspots for a slew of events.

Henley Growers Market – June 19

Henley Green Market — Photo credit: The Happy Hens

From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the 19th of June 2021, an artisan market hosted by the Happy Hens Social Enterprise will be held at the Henley Green Community Garden. Market-goers will be able to treat themselves to some fresh weekly produce from growers as well as some locally-made coffee and food.

The event makes for a scenic way to shop, and many stalls from previous instances of the event will be returning to sell their goods once again. Aus Beverages offers a range of drinks including plain and flavoured mineral water, as well as a variety of fruit juices. Boomerang Bags, on the other hand, sells locally handmade shopping bags.

The Henley Growers Market can be found at the Henley Green Community Garden in 2A Crown St, Henley, and it will be open to any and all — free of charge.

Sip & Swap – June 24

Sip & Swap at Hunters Hill — Photo credit: The Clothing Exchange

Hosted at the YARN is Sip & Swap, an exciting event that gives Sydney residents the chance to update their wardrobes while simultaneously treating themselves to some light refreshments. Mounted by the Clothing Exchange, the event is scheduled to take place on the 24th of June 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Here, event-goers will be able to swap their clothes in exchange for others, allowing them to change their wardrobes without growing them, helping people save money and space. People will also be able to meet like-minded locals and give their old clothes new homes.

The Yarn is located at 64 Gladesville Rd, Hunters Hill. While the event is free, booking is mandatory. Those interested in taking part can contact the hosts at people@huntershill.nsw.gov.au, or by calling them through his number: (02) 9879 9400.

Storytime – Wednesdays

Storytime at Hunters Hill — Photo credit: Hunter’s Hill Council

Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. onwards, parents will be able to bring their children to the YARN, an innovative library and community space, for some exciting sessions of storytelling aimed at preschool-aged children and their carers.

The YARN can be found at 64 Gladesville Rd, Hunters Hill, and these weekly sessions are open to anyone interested — no booking necessary.

Baby Bounce – Fridays

Baby Bounce at Hunters Hill — Photo credit: Hunter’s Hill Council

Much like the previous event, Baby Bounce is hosted at the YARN. This event has been scheduled to take place every Friday from 11:00 a.m. onwards. Parents will be able to bring their children to the library for some stories, songs and nursery rhymes. Unlike Storytime, this event caters to children between the ages of zero and two and their carers.

The YARN can be found at 64 Gladesville Rd, Hunters Hill, and booking will not be required for this event.

The Yarn: First Hunters Hill Community Library Weaving a Sustainable Future

Have you had a chance to visit The Yarn, the first Hunters Hill community library since this metropolitan suburb’s establishment in 1861? The long wait for the opening of a shared library seems all worth it as The Yarn has been slowly weaving into the lifestyle and activities of the community in the most sustainable way.

Launched in October 2020 on Gladesville Road, The Yarn provides Hunters Hill residents a vast collection of reading materials to browse and borrow, including from its e-library options. Visitors may also participate in local studies or use the spaces for meetings and community events.

Activities at The Yarn

Since the opening, the community space has been booked and packed with events, talks and workshops, where the locals may learn new skills on sustainable living or make new friends with like-minded individuals.

Events are scheduled at the Hunters Hill Eventbrite page and below are the highlights from the next activities for July 2021:

DATE	TIME	EVENT
Wednesday, 30 June 2021	11:00 a.m.	Weaving Designs
Friday, 2 July 2021	11:00 a.m.	Osmo Playspace
Tuesday, 6 July 2021	3:30 p.m.	Clay Mosaics for Teens
Wednesday, 7 July 2021	11:00 a.m	Clay Creations
Friday, 9 July 2021	11:00 a.m	Ozobot Mazes

The Yarn also offers programs, such as Storytime and Baby Bounce, for families with preschool-aged children every Wednesday and Friday at 11:00 a.m. On Fridays, the Justice of the Peace is open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for residents needing to witness statutory declarations on official and legal documents.

The Yarn’s Uniqueness

Compared to other libraries in Sydney, The Yarn stands out for embracing the circular economy, where waste materials are turned into finite resources. Constructing the fitout for The Yarn involved the use of old school uniforms, tattered textiles, and shattered glasses.

*Photo Credit: Hunters Hill Council/Facebook*

Some of the furniture in this library come from repurposed materials, which have been created as high-value, durable and sturdy pieces by the microfactory at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The Yarn also has its very own Waste Wall where the community can donate items for repurposing. A designated 3D printer uses waste plastic fibers to come up with displays for the Library of Things.

“How we can actually use waste materials in a community space like this that shows to local community members that we are really smart in terms of developing new science and technologies,” SMaRT@UNSW Director Professor Veena Sahajwalla said.

Contaminated Soil in Hunters Hill to be Transported to US

Did you know that, after over a century, contaminated soil at Hunters Hill will finally be cleaned up and moved out and sent overseas to Idaho, United States?

According to Rob Stokes, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the NSW Government’s proposal to dispose of contaminated Australian soil by moving it to Idaho in the U.S. has received overwhelming support from the local community. The NSW Government secured approval for the waste to be transported overseas by the U.S., and after a century of enduring polluted land, one of the most prominent health risks in Hunters Hill will finally become a thing of the past.

“This proposal is the culmination of years of extensive and complex investigation to find the best solution for the community and I’m pleased we have finally reached an agreement,” Mr Stokes said. “This safe and secure plan will mean these waterfront properties, which have laid dormant for decades, can now be used once the waste is safely moved away.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes.
Photo credit: Facebook/Rob Stokes

Excavation of the site and packing the contaminated material will be carried out by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, or ANSTO, who will also handle the soil’s transportation to the United States.

The soil, which has been contaminated radiologically and chemically from industrial activity throughout the centuries, primarily the 1800s to the 1900s, has been the source of a lot of stress for the Hunters Hill community for decades. The area was the site of a coal tar distillation plant which produced a great deal of carbolic acid between 1900 and 1911 before being used for uranium ore processing until 1914.

Photo credit: Australian Nuclear and Uranium Sites

The decision to transport the soil to America has been described as “…a big win for local people…” according to Mr Stokes. “I’m glad we’ve finally arrived at an outcome that deals with this issue once and for all.”

The pollution caused by the contaminated soil had gotten so bad that the government was forced to acquire three Hunters Hill homes that were too dangerous to live in. Excavating and transporting the contaminated soil is a meticulous process that will take roughly 18 months to complete, and the operation will commence in earnest sometime in July 2021.

AJ Roach: Why Doesn’t the Famous Water Polo Star Play Rugby Like His Dad?

The Gladesville-based water polo player AJ Roach, the son of the National Rugby League enforcer Steve Blocker Roach, has opted not to follow in his father’s footsteps despite playing the sport in high school.

Aidan “AJ” Roach, a two-time Olympian and water polo star based in Gladesville, confesses that he’d prefer not to join his father in the professional rugby scene — a sharp contrast from numerous other father-son duos in sports such as Wayne and Mitchell Pearce, Matty Johns and his two children Jack and Cooper, as well as Kevin and Billy Walters.

Born in 1990, AJ Roach began his professional water polo debut at 19 years old. Despite the fact that he’d played rugby during his teen years, AJ confessed that he was clumsy on land and found much more comfort maneuvering in the water. He’d learned that rugby wasn’t his strong suit the hard way, playing the sport until he turned 15.

In 2009, at the age of 19, AJ made his debut with the Aussie Sharks, the Australian Men’s water polo team, and he also managed to win a gold medal at the World University Games. Since then, his water polo career had gone swimmingly.

In fact, AJ Roach became a certified Olympian shortly afterwards, having competed in the 2012 London Olympic Games, as well as the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He also competed in the 2011 FINA World Championships.

To this day, he still plays with the Aussie Sharks, bidding to go to his third Olympic Games later this year by vying for a spot in the Tokyo Games, which are scheduled to take place between the 23rd of July and the 8th of August 2021.

2021 Free Tree Giveaway: Hunters Hill Households, 32 Other LGAs Now Eligible

Households across 33 local government areas in Sydney, including Hunters Hill, may get free trees to plant in their backyard in line with the 2021 Free Tree Giveaway initiative to plant one million trees in Greater Sydney by 2022.

The NSW Planning, Industry & Environment partnered with IndigiGrow, an all Aboriginal owned, not-for-profit based in La Perouse. The giveaway will run until May 2021 for the batch of orders that will open beginning 1 April 2021.

“Planting one million trees will provide more shade, cleaner air and more resilient places to live. To reach the target of one million trees we need individuals to play a part and plant trees in your own backyard,” per the government agency.

Below is the complete list of local government units eligible to order the free tree giveaway:

Bayside
Blacktown
Blue Mountains
Burwood
Camden
Campbelltown
Canada Bay
Canterbury-Bankstown
Cumberland
Fairfield
Georges River
Hawkesbury
Hornsby
Hunters Hill
Inner West
Ku-Ring-Gai
Lane Cove
Liverpool
Mosman
North Sydney
Northern Beaches
Parramatta
Penrith
Randwick
Ryde
Strathfield
Sutherland
Sydney
The Hills
Waverly
Willoughby
Wollondilly
Woollahra

Register your intent to get free trees online. If the stocks run out, you will still be notified as soon as it’s available.

Pick-up will be at La Perouse Public School, where IndigiGrow operates the initiative. Details will be provided in your registered email.

More opportunities to receive free trees will be available by June 2021.

Hunters Hill and Gladesville Included in Preferred Locations for Next DOGUE Boutique

Dog care provider Dogue is planning to expand their pet grooming services to cover Hunters Hill and Gladesville soon.

Are you a dog lover with business expertise? If you answered yes, then maybe a DOGUE franchise could be for you!

DOGUE is one of Australia’s most innovative service and retail providers for the canine community. It is considered as a dog haven for majority of its clients since they offer top-of-the-line services and products, may it be dog grooming, doggie daycare or puppy consultation.

But apart from the usual pet grooming services, DOGUE is also known for the luxurious pampering experience that they provide. Remedial massage, Mud baths, and Aromatherapy are just a few of the special services offered at DOGUE, sure to keep your pooch feeling relaxed, refreshed, and happy.

Since its opening in 1998, DOGUE was able to open up a network of 9 different stores through franchise in three different states-New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. And now with its management deeply invested in improving and bringing out the very best in the lives of both pets and pet owners, DOGUE is further expanding its fabulous boutique to different suburbs across NSW. Here is a list of their preferred locations for NSW:

Hunters Hill / Gladesville
Castle Hill
Gordon
Manly
Petersham/ Dulwich Hill

DOGUE in Hunters Hill and Gladesville

DOUGE is hoping to open up a boutique and be an active member of the community in the area of Hunters Hill and/ or Gladesville. Based on its management’s research on the suburbs’ location and demographic details, here are the reasons why these two suburbs are included in the list of their preferred locations:

Hunters Hill has a desirable customer base given its high-income population and also stratospheric property prices.
Even though Gladesville is a bit more working class as compared to Hunters Hill, the median household incomes are still above $1550 pw. Gladesville also has long stretches of waterfront properties.
Both Hunters Hill and Gladesville have diverse retail environment.
There is little competition in the area in terms of pet grooming.
There are over 17000 registered dogs in the Hunters Hill/ Lane Cove/ Ryde areas.

If you are interested in franchising a DOGUE boutique, you may click here to enquire.

Hunters Hill Council Imposes Solid Yellow Line Parking Restriction for 2019

Photo Credit: Aitoff/Pixabay

The Hunters Hill Council has set new parking rules to be strictly implemented this 2019. Crucial roads in and around the suburbs have been marked with solid yellow lines to indicate a “no stopping zone.”

More areas with yellow lines will be added as the Council evaluates the parking situation. The restriction for some areas, however, may have specific hours where the no parking rule is in effect.

“During 2019 we will continue to mark areas with solid yellow line markings – this indicates a no stopping area,” as stated on the Council’s official Facebook page.

The Council is also reiterating the General Parking Rules that prohibit vehicles from stopping or parking at any time at these areas:

where there are driveways or footpaths
where there are pedestrian crossings and 20 metres thereof
on bus and taxi zones and 20 metres thereof
on motorways and clearways
on traffic island
on railroad level crossing and 20 metres thereof
in an intersection and 20 metres thereof, unless there is an actual parking sign
in a slip lane
within a meter near a fire hydrant
within 10 metres before and after a safety zone
within three metres of a post office box

You may download the General Parking Rules from the Council’s official site for the complete information.

Hunters Hill Council Rangers issue the parking notices and tickets. Fines and disputes are settled with the State Debt Recovery Office.

Residents may also apply for free non-transferrable parking permits with the Council to exclude them from the parking restrictions if they live at Clarkes Point Reserve and Buffalo Creek Reserve.

4 Off-Leash Dog Areas in Hunter’s Hill

Photo Credit: LaBruixa/Pixabay

Some residents and visitors to Hunter’s Hill may not be aware that there are four off-leash dog parks in this suburb. Four-legged furry pals may be allowed to run around freely in these areas with their owner’s supervision and control.

The Hunter’s Hill Council has made these areas specific for dog exercises to comply with the Companion Animals Act 1998. Signs are posted all over the sites but take note of the times allowed since there may be other activities in these areas that could be disrupted if there are dogs running and playing off leash.

Clarkes Point

Monday to Friday, all day
Saturday and Sunday, until 9:30 a.m.

Lower Gladsville Reserve

Monday to Friday, all day
Saturday and Sunday, until 9:30 a.m.

Riverglade Reserve

Specifically on the eastern end, from the concrete spillway path leading to Waruda Place
No time restriction

Tarban Creek Reserve

From Gladeville Road to Manning Road
No time restriction

*Photo Credit:* *Neil Starrett/Facebook*

*Photo Credit:* *Liz’s Dog Biz/Facebook*

Pet owners are expected to clean up after their dog’s waste immediately to avoid penalties. Bins for proper disposal of excrements are all over these parks. There will be rangers and park workers at the reserve as well, who may hand out clean-up bags or issue warnings in case of violations.

Fur parents and dog walkers are allowed up to four dogs at a time at the off-leash grounds. Native bushland areas anywhere in Hunter’s Hill, where hundreds of flora and fauna are protected, are strictly not off-leash areas.